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Chapter Text

It could have been worse. That’s what Law tried to tell himself in the immediate aftermath. Then again, that could be said for just about anything and he had it on good authority that could have been worse did not necessitate the state of currently being as fine. 

There remained one other living soul in the alleyway who, contrary to the alarm exuded in the midst of the preceding drama, now seemed blissfully unperturbed. As their eyes met, Law was rewarded with an enthusiastic tail wag—as if its owner was not the catalyst for the definitively not fine situation Law found himself in. 

Law opened his mouth. In retrospect, he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to say. Maybe something sarcastic, or caustic, or maybe conciliatory because unfortunately this particular creature was somehow more adorable than Bepo and Chopper combined. It turned out to not matter in the end because when he tried to speak, all that escaped was an incredibly pathetic, “Wooof.”

Ah. Fuck. 

His fellow canine appreciated the attempt, tail waving frantically as a series of excitable barks were launched at Law in an apparent one-sided conversation. In the face of this adorableness—overwhelming, despite the circumstances—Law realized he was now smaller than his unintelligible discussion partner who was too tiny to be a comfortable pillow for a regular-sized human. 

No one can find out about this, Law thought. The sheer mortification from his current predicament would lead to an untimely end via spontaneous combustion. And that’s just for his own crew. What if word got out? Front page news, the fate of Trafalgar Law, Surgeon of Death, once a feared and notorious pirate though certainly not anymore, as proven by a single widespread photo that explained all that needed to be said. 

Law would have to murder Eustass before any of that. On the off chance he did come into that knowledge before his heart was expelled from his body, death wouldn’t be enough. Law would simply have to find a time travel devil fruit user willing to toss him into the past to rectify that egregious error. Even if Law could never get back or fucked up key historical events, that would be the preferable alternative to Eustass Kid’s ugly gloating face once he got a good look at Law’s newly acquired fluffy paws. 

Of course, there were always worse options than Eustass finding out too, reminded the insidious little voice that never seemed to leave Law well enough alone.

“Woooof,” said Law despondently. The other dog sympathized with his misery and gave an affectionate headbutt before sniffing him curiously, nose to nose. 

Well, if Law had ever been concerned that the universe got bored of fucking with him, he’d certainly earned a middle finger to dispel all those fantastical notions. 

The problem was he had been rather preoccupied. Wallowing, in fact, enough that he admitted it to himself and told his crew to enjoy a few days off at an overly expensive, terribly posh resort—the type of resort that had sections for all the seasons, including a winter wonderland tucked away even though the weather outside lay somewhere between volcanic and the center of the sun. Law had stumbled into an exclusive invitation a couple years before when he’d inadvertently gotten into the good graces of a member. He’d balked at the ridiculous price and never taken up his card-carrying privileges. But it also happened to be the sort of expensive that squashed all rumors regarding who was docked there.

So his crew, despite their tendencies to hover when they sensed he was “in that mood,” did not complain much. One look at the waterfall pool had been enough to quench any serious protests. 

“He’s in his wandering phase again,” Ikkaku cheerfully informed the others during the meeting after they’d anchored. She was already in a newly bought bikini. 

“I’m not in a phase,” was Law’s refute, even though wandering was pretty much the exact plan he had in place. 

“Don’t get lost, Captain,” said Jean Bart, wearing swim trunks with a matching pattern to Ikkaku. 

Law scoffed and kicked them all off the submarine. 

Bepo hung back, dressed for the beach even though Law knew he was heading straight for the snow. 

“It’s just for a few days,” Law preemptively repeated. “I’ll be back in a week. Two at the most.” There was a cluster of islands nearby he was planning to explore. 

“Have fun,” Bepo said. “It’ll be nice to clear your head.” Then he wrung his paws. “Sorry, it’s just… do you think they’re following us?”

“Who?” said Law blandly. 

He was rewarded with a patented Bepo look, the one that said You’re the biggest idiot I know, Captain, but I love you anyway so I want you to know that I know you’re spouting complete bullshit but I’ll let you get away with it because of the aforementioned how much I love you. 

Bepo could say a lot with The Look. 

“Okay, Captain,” he relented, with the usual accompanying disapproving Bepo tone. “If you’re not back in two weeks we’ll come looking for you.” 

“Three,” said Law, suddenly feeling the need to find a really deep cave to traverse, far away from civilization. “And you don’t need to worry, Bepo. What’s going to happen to me?”

That was the thing with Law’s lot in life. It always seemed to be one big cosmic joke. 

There were several days left before his crew would start searching for him. That could be either a blessing or a curse but Law wasn’t going to wait around to find out. Readjusting to his new center of gravity, he stumbled his way over to Kikoku, left helplessly sprawled on the dirty cobblestone. As soon as he drew near, she gave off a distinctly unimpressed hum.

“Rrruff,” Law told her. It’s not like he was any happier with his current doggy form. He rested a paw on her hilt, half to reassure her and half to be reassured. Whispers rushed through him, less distinct sounds and more a physical sensation. The familiarity of the melancholic bloodthirst soothed him. 

He did not want to leave her here. She could howl all she wanted but she wasn’t the sort of cursed sword to slice off any ill-intentioned hands. But Law didn’t think dragging her through the streets in his mouth (if he could even pick her up) would do either of them any favors. 

The island’s lackluster draw was a boon in this situation though. Without many people around, there was a good chance no one would find her in the definitely very short time until he had opposable thumbs again. Law surveyed the alley and spotted some sad-looking barrels that seemed to have been abandoned for more than a season. 

His fellow canine ambled over to give Kikoku a hearty sniff before turning to nose around Law again, heading towards his backside with clear information-gathering intentions. Law let out a growl that was the opposite of intimidating and sat down emphatically. He was not about to test whether he could die of total embarrassment with only himself and his sword as witness. 

The dog gave him a pathetic look, panting with less pep than before. 

Law sighed. “Arruf,” he tried to apologize, while still making it clear such actions would not be allowed. He began panting too. Funny how being covered in fur made it even more excruciatingly hot outside. 

Turning back to Kikoku, Law gingerly sank his newly sharpened teeth into her hilt and tugged. As predicted, his new form was not much use against her size. But a furry body brushed against him and the other dog grabbed Kikoku’s hilt as well, tail wagging with fully restored enthusiasm.

They must have made quite the ridiculous sight, two tiny animals dragging a foreboding cursed sword across the alleyway, but there was no witness and Law would never confess that this scene occurred. They managed to get her safely situated out of sight without too much mistreatment. Law touched her affectionately, promising he’d be back as soon as he could. 

Then he faced the mouth of the alley and realized he had no clue what to do. 

His newfound friend followed him towards the street, barking incomprehensibly and brimming with the sort of cuteness that got Law into this mess in the first place. 

“Woof,” Law agreed politely, taking one step out only to nearly get bowled over by a man and his cart.  

“Watch it, mutt!” boomed the man, throwing a kick that was a bit like having an Elbaf giant attempt to stomp one’s person out of existence. 

Law yelped. It was high-pitched and panicked and not his proudest moment. 

“Rrrruff!” yelled Law’s canine companion, offended on Law’s behalf. Apparently unafraid of challenging humans, he went straight to nipping at a heel bone. 

“Ahhh, damn mutts!” hollered the man, twisting and turning as the dog scurried around him. One vicious nibble and the man went toppling down to the ground. The dog barked victoriously over the crumpled remains of his enemy before trotting over to Law with a let’s get outta here look. 

Law followed, trusting the dog’s street smarts. The man was already kicking up a storm of curses by the time they rounded the corner, taking refuge in the next alley over. Barely a couple minutes out in the open world and Law already required a breather. The world was a lot scarier as a dog small enough to get into height wars with human ankles.

He needed to get out of this mess. Quick. 

However, the culprit had fled and now Law needed to start some sort of canine investigation. How? Where? Who? (Why? Law mourned internally.) This was a small island, yes, but he’d already nearly been trampled. If—when—he managed to track the culprit down, what would he do then? Yap with deadly threats until he was turned back? What if that failed? The possibility of living out the remainder of his now significantly cut lifespan covered in fur was not something he wanted to dwell on. 

“Wuh-ooof,” Law despaired, dwelling anyway.

“Rrowo!” sympathized his new friend. At least he seemed interested in sticking around. Law should probably give him a name even though he was notoriously not very good at naming things. Lack of imagination, according to his crew. Lami used to make fun of him for it too. She had an entire phase of thinking every object in existence was worth naming and insisted he give his hat one. She was quite displeased with his suggestion of Hat. Then again, she’d dubbed it Dotty so maybe the creative gene was missing from the Trafalgar family altogether. 

Dog was a good name. Short and utilitarian. 

“Rhuff?” Law asked Dog, which was supposed to convey Hey you don’t happen to know where to find that devil fruit user and possibly be able to show me the way so I can turn back into a bipedal mammal and collect my sword and never speak of this to anyone?

Dog wagged his tail happily. Law suspected his message was lost in translation.

No worries. He might be significantly rounder and shorter than before but he was still Trafalgar Law, Surgeon of Death, one of the most dangerous pirates in the seas, and he wasn’t about to let a little fur problem get in the way of figuring out how to get home. He could be menacing as a dog. All he needed to do was track the devil fruit user down and take it from there.

Law stepped out onto the street again, filled with resolve to not let this debacle keep his tail between his legs. He’d survived far worse than this. Dog trailed dutifully behind as Law tried to navigate to the rather dismal town port—admittedly without much of a plan beyond brute force searching and attempting to not smell all the strong, unpleasant odors his new nose was picking up. The port was one of the busiest areas on the island (which wasn’t saying much) and there was a decent chance he could simply find the devil fruit user there. The universe owed him a freebie anyway. 

Most of the islanders didn’t give Law and Dog a second look as they scurried past. Law scanned their faces before getting distracted by the smell of something mouthwateringly delicious. Dog caught it too, veering out of the way and leading Law to a butcher’s shop. Wow. Law could finally understand how someone could be obsessed with meat. Dog began nosing along the door, searching for a way in. 

Unfortunately, even a second’s distraction was enough. Before the danger registered, two hands gripped Law’s tiny body tight and lifted him into the air. 

“Oh my god, aren’t you just the cutest thing in the world?” 

Law struggled furiously against the hold, angry yips embarrassingly non-threatening even to his own ears. 

“Rororuff!” complained Dog, worriedly scampering around on the ground. 

“Hey, there’s two of them!” 

Law snarled, trying to deepen his voice. He craned his stubby neck back to figure out who would dare only to be met with a rather horrifying sight: a young man and woman wearing marine uniforms.

“You think they’re lost, Corin?” asked the woman, bending down to try and pet Dog.

“No collars,” Corin remarked, angling Law away when he tried to bite him. 

The young woman looked up. “You know who would love these?” She had a mischievous expression on her face that didn’t bode well for Law’s future. He struggled harder. 

“You think?” Corin eyed Law thoughtfully. “But how are we…?” 

“Don’t worry about that. This is your chance to impress her!” The young woman carelessly waved her hand and spoke to Dog in a baby voice. “Hey there, little cutie, you wanna come home with us?”

Law attempted to make his feelings clear through rage-filled barks and bites but his squirming was completely useless. 

“We’re gonna get in so much trouble,” said Corin, not seeming overly concerned. Easily warding off all of Law’s vicious attacks, he began carrying him away from the butcher’s shop.

“C’mere, boy!” the young woman called to Dog as Corin turned the corner. 

This cannot be happening. Law stared in horror at a huge marine ship bobbing in the waves. That had not been docked there this morning. 

“Don’t worry,” Corin reassured him. “You’ll love your new home!”

It was a simple failure of focus. Embarrassing really, especially for a pirate of his stature.

He was on the third island of his so-called soul-finding expedition (as Shachi had dubbed it when waving him off). It was hot. Too hot. The worst island of the bunch. Humid in that way where it sat on his skin like a damp towel smelling of wet dog. Law loathed heat like this. He’d arrived the day before from the largest of the clustered islands, thinking it would be nice to get away from the city there, only to be hit with a horrid swamp-like environment and a terrible night spent tossing and turning and sweating like a pig. The backwater island didn’t even have anything to offer except unfriendly sneers at his tattoos and disparaging comments about damn pirates. 

Fair enough. Law wouldn’t want the majority of the pirates he knew mucking around his home either. Possibly not even any of them. And with what he’d seen of the island, he really didn’t want to muck around anyway.

But, despite his foul mood, he was having a cup of coffee before leaving. 

It was not the first time in his life this particular action led to an escalating series of regrettable events. He doubted it would be the last because he was going to have a goddamn cup of coffee in the morning everyday until he died anyway. 

The only town of the island was small and somewhat dilapidated but he found a café on the main street. There was a handful of patrons: an elderly man with a beard reaching the floor muttering to himself in the corner, an exhausted-looking father who seemed to be lecturing his restless preteen daughter, and a middle-aged woman sitting at the counter. The owner gave Law an unimpressed once-over when he walked in but beri spoke just as well here as anywhere. 

Law sat by the counter as he drank, angling himself so he could sort of read the daily newspaper the woman held. The coffee was pretty decent, a dark earthy bitterness that hit just right. A good distraction from the unpleasant musings on the second page about a particular pirate crew that had been spotted not too far away.

“Bah!” exclaimed the woman to the owner. “Like we need that pile of trouble coming over here.”

The owner laughed. “Why would they come here? There’s not much going on ‘round these parts.” Then they’d both given Law suspicious looks. 

Law gulped down his coffee and left. They were right. There was no reason for anyone to be on this island, including him. In fact, he shouldn’t be anywhere near here at all. Instead, he should collect his crew and leave the Grand Line in search of the most boring place in existence, so dull and remote that no one would sail there even by pure happenstance. 

He hesitated outside the café, torn about discarding his plan to move to the next island in favor of returning to his crew early. The North Blue was awfully tempting when the alternative was hell’s sauna. But his crew could be so nosy sometimes. 

An upset bark broke through his turmoiled thoughts. 

He could have left. That’s the worst part, he really could have just walked away. He was a pirate, not an altruistic fool tripping over his own feet to help anybody stumbling along; no, he was selfish and ill-tempered and had crimes like forcible dissection and excessive property damage in his repertoire. He was one of the most wanted individuals in the world and despite the existence of a certain calibre of pirates who had an irritating habit of overthrowing governments because of a friendly face or sob story, Law certainly never did that intentionally. Or at least not for any reasons beyond personal gain. 

So he could have left. He should have left. But instead, he followed the next bark that became more of a whine by the time he found himself peering down the length of a back alley. 

It was a mess, halfway to being a dump, and it took Law a moment to locate the source of the noise. But there it was, a flash of bright white beneath a lopsided array of junk. Law knelt down to dig. After moving a heavy metal beam, a rounded face popped into sight, looking up at him hopefully. 

“Woof!” 

Oh god. Law stared down with a carefully stoic expression at the tiny creature he had just revealed. Its short neck stretched out to try and give his nearby hand a lick as if in thanks, no longer seeming perturbed at its trapped state now that someone was there to help. 

It was excessively adorable. 

“Where did you come from?” Law asked aloud, letting it sniff around his hand for a minute before getting back to digging it out. The dog had really wedged itself into quite a pickle. Or, Law thought with a frown, someone had put it there. 

The dog responded with some cheerful barks, helpfully wriggling its body as Law moved dangerous items away. It was almost free besides its back legs which were caught in a tangle of sharp mesh. Law painstakingly began to maneuver it out. After this was off, he’d be able to lift it out of its uncomfortable prison. 

The dog sensed this and began barking excitedly, trying to forcibly yank its remaining trapped leg out, forcing Law to hold it tightly still as he finished up. 

Someone inhaled sharply behind him. 

Law let go of the dog and whirled around, groping for where he’d set Kikoku aside. He’d been so preoccupied he hadn’t even noticed anyone approach. 

A young girl stood at the mouth of the alley, looking at him with wide eyes. She was maybe twelve or thirteen and it took Law a second to recognize he’d seen her in the café. A flash of anger ran through him. 

“Is this your dog?” he snapped right as she demanded, “What’re you doing?”

They glared at each other. The dog, sensing the tension, began barking worriedly and struggling to release its leg. 

“I-I’m not afraid of you!” said the girl, squaring up. “G-give me t-the dog!” 

To her credit, despite the obvious fear, she held herself remarkably well. Unlucky for her, Law really was someone to be feared, especially for individuals going around mistreating adorable balls of fur.

He drew himself up, not intending to get into a fight with someone whose brain was not yet fully developed, but fully meaning to intimidate. “I’m not giving you the dog,” Law said sharply. The dog’s barking turned frenzied. “What do you think you’re doing?” He clenched his hand around Kikoku, aware that slicing a preteen up might be considered bullying but would also be quite a memorable lesson. 

The girl quaked in her boots but held her position, hands clenched at her side. “I-I’ll fight you if you don’t!”

Law scoffed, readying a threatening speech as a follow-up, but was distracted by a loud, pained yip down around his feet. 

Turning to look, he saw that the dog had managed to wrench its leg out of the mesh, scraping it in the process. He bent down to examine the scratch with just enough time to deem it shallow and un-worrisome when from behind, the girl shouted, “Don’t hurt him!” and began audibly running towards them. 

Law had a split second to arrive at the conclusion that maybe they had both misinterpreted the situation before a small hand landed on his back and the entire world turned upside down. 

It felt like being sucked into a squeezing whirlpool, all of Law’s guts and bones meshing together in a soupy mess before rearranging and solidifying in a bout of excruciating pain. Law was just cognitive enough to think, This is how I fucking die? before it was already over and he staggered helplessly in aching bewilderment only to collapse on the ground, momentarily blacking out.

Silence blanketed the alley while he recovered, the aftershocks of pain fading. A small, wet nose nudged his face and he opened his eyes, vision briefly swimming. As it settled, it became quite clear something was off. His head pounded, senses so overwhelmed that he couldn’t even discern what was wrong. He struggled to stand, balance screwy enough that he tumbled back onto his face for the first attempt with all the elegance of a toddler learning to walk. 

The dog prodded him again and he finally sat up with a strange, almost out-of-body sensation. Law slowly collected his bearings. He spotted the girl standing a few paces away, staring down at him with a horrified expression. She seemed awfully tall, even for him sitting on the ground. Glancing to the side, he was met face to face with the dog, who for some reason had exploded in size.

That’s when the alarm bells finally went off. 

“Oh no,” said the girl. “My dad is going to kill me.” 

Then she ran out of the alleyway right as Law looked down and discovered he had paws. 

That cursed backwater island faded from view as a young marine held onto Law’s struggling rotund body. It felt almost pointed, holding Law up so he could see out the porthole, watching his sense of direction and last solid inkling of hope disappear into the horizon. At this point, the devil fruit user may as well be on the sun for how easy it would be to find her again. 

The nightmare had only just begun. His handler was not actually purposefully taunting him but was displaying him to a crowd of fascinated peers who revealed the actual truth: he wasn’t supposed to be on this ship, beyond the fact that he was secretly Trafalgar Law. The junior marines snuck him on. He was an unwitting stowaway on a blasted marine galleon because a dumbass kid was trying to impress someone. 

“Oh, they’re so cute!” squealed said someone.

Law’s abductor looked pleased. His female friend, whose idea this was, nudged him and said smugly, “Corin saw them and thought of you, Sadie.”

Sadie blushed. She reached out to scratch Law’s belly. He bit her really, really hard. 

Dog ended up being a bit more popular.

While his companion traitorously enjoyed some pets, Law managed to elude his captors’ grasp and went exploring the ship, doing his best to be as stealthy as a shock-white sentient marshmallow could be. He managed to get out to a deck where he spent a not inconsiderable amount of time wondering whether it was worth testing his anchor status in this form or not. Bepo would have been alarmed. But it’s not like Law could use his devil fruit. He’d tried. And some situations were worth risking death to get out of. 

Unfortunately, a passing rookie spotted him before he could decide and he was unceremoniously returned to his supposed new home.

“Well, aren’t you just a crafty little escape artist?” Sadie cradled her hand with a sour expression. 

“Aww, Grumpy here’s just getting adjusted,” said the other young woman, Hana. 

Law memorized their faces carefully. When he regained his human form, he would slice them up into extra thin pieces. 

After being acquainted with the entirety of this ship’s recruits, a makeshift bed was made for him and Dog, hidden under Corin’s bunk. The room was crowded with young marines. Once the chorus of snores started up, Law snuck his way towards the door. He craned his neck up. The handle felt like it sat a mile above him. So he surveyed the room, searching for some sort of nook or cranny that he could fit through, but found nothing. Even if he did, he reasoned, returning to where Dog slept, what the hell would he do next? It was obvious from the ship’s motion they were still out at sea.

He reluctantly curled up next to Dog. A flicker of true despair crept in. There was still a week left until his crew would even notice his absence and once they did, then what? It’s not like they’d be on the lookout for a lost dog. How was Law going to get home?

Dog shifted beside him, dark eyes glinting in the moonlit room. Perhaps sensing Law’s mood, he pressed closer. Despite it all, the gesture was comforting. If he closed his eyes, Law could almost pretend it was Bepo at his side.  

Still, it took a long time to fall asleep that night. 

—

The young marines were surprisingly adept at keeping two smuggled dogs a secret. Law and Dog were well fed but mostly confined to the bunks, aside from a daily sneak outside. On their third day aboard, Law was forced to participate in the most ridiculous plan to keep them hidden during the weekly bunk inspection. It was like witnessing an intricately planned heist. 

All the young marines were aware of the two new passengers so there was a steady influx of people filtering in and out the room to coo over mostly Dog (though some took Law’s attitude as a challenge). This meant they were rarely alone. Conversation among the marines tended towards the banal, he unwillingly discovered. Having learned far too much gossip about this unit than was necessary, he resorted to information gathering whenever he did manage to escape the bunk. Rather unsuccessful information gathering. Moreover, he gained a reputation as a flight-risk and was treated as such while Dog was treated much more leniently.

What he did know was the ship sailed constantly and it probably wouldn’t be advantageous for him to have the marine higher-ups discover his presence. They’d probably put him in some animal version of Impel Down. Law’s hopes for escape were dashed for now. He divided his time between being a complete nuisance and sulking. 

“C’mere, Grumpy!” 

Law ignored the dried meat being waved at him, even though it smelled delicious. He deliberately pressed further back into his shadowed hiding place under a corner bunk. 

Hana sighed, exasperated. “Fine! Then you’re not getting any treats!” She crawled back to where Corin and Sadie were playing fetch with Dog. They’d named Dog after one of their superiors who Law was not familiar with. It was hard to tell whether the name was born out of affection or disrespect. 

“What’re we gonna do, Corin?” asked Sadie. “The only reason Captain Moreno didn’t see us was because Lola distracted him and now I owe her. She was stuck listening to him answer her one question for a half hour! Anyway, someone’ll find out sooner or later and Vice Admiral’ll have our hide.”

“We could train ‘em as Navy dogs!” said Hana cheerfully. Dog ate Law’s treat out of her palm. 

Sadie eyed Dog, looking equally doubtful and protective. 

“Or I could look for someone to adopt them on the next island,” said Corin. “I don’t actually want to get kicked out.”

Sadie pulled Dog onto her lap, not seeming to like that prospect. “You really think we could convince the Vice Admiral? Or it might be easier to hide with just one. Grumpy could be adopted.”

Fuck you too, Law thought. 

“Grumpy might make the better Navy dog,” Hana remarked. “It’s kind of impressive how he keeps getting out.”

“I dunno. If you think you can sell a couple dogs to the Vice Admiral, I’ll leave it to you. But I’ll look around next island just to see.” Corin frowned as he threw a ball for Dog. “Assuming we get there and aren’t sunk. I don’t know what they expect us to do if we actually manage to catch up to the Pirate King.” 

Law’s ears twitched. 

“They’ll send back-up if we do,” said Hana. “’S just unlucky we were the closest in the area when they were spotted.”

“I took this assignment because it’s probably the most boring place in the Grand Line. Now we’re running after the Pirate King?” Sadie crossed her arms. “What the hell is he even doing around here? It doesn’t make any sense!” 

It rarely did with that man. Law frowned. The Pirate King never stayed in one place for long. Doubtlessly he’d be moving on soon enough, the sheer coincidence in sailing trajectory finally breaking off from Law’s submarine, and hopefully he’d depart without engaging in naval warfare with the vessel Law was imprisoned on—because if he did, Law doubted it would be anything less than a woeful end for himself.

The chances of such a fiery fate were low. Law put all thoughts of the Pirate King out of his mind. He had bigger problems to worry about. 

—

The last day of Law’s grace period for returning to his crew ticked past without fanfare. A week spent in this frankly embarrassing form, getting used to his new biology, and trapped with a group of troublemaking, gossip-fueled marines. 

It was almost funny to compare his current circumstances with his initial intentions for wandering around. Almost.

His crew would start searching immediately. They were very sensitive about punctuality when it came to Law going off on his own. No matter how much he tried to alleviate their fears, they always seemed to fret over him, flocking around like clucking mother hens. Law kept his ears peeled for possible word of the Heart Pirates in the area. Maybe—impossibly—they would figure out what happened to him, learn of his situation and location through some worry-filled osmosis and come collect him. Law would have to live with their teasing for the rest of his life but as long as he could do that as a human—as long as he could do that with them—it was fine.

But there was silence. 

Law tried to convince himself that was okay as one week as a dog turned into two. They needed sailing time. They needed investigation time. They needed planning time. They just needed time. And really, he should be relieved there was silence instead of something worse. At least his crew hadn’t put out a Missing Person poster. That would really seal the deal of this entire humiliating escapade. They would do it too. If you see him, please return Trafalgar Law to his crew. They’re worried about him and want him to know they love him very much.

While they gathered their resources, he would continue conjuring up his own escape plan and what he’d do after he was off this marine ship, as a newly freed stray dog not used to being a dog in a strange place with no clue where exactly he was, with no easy way to get back to that cursed backwater island and the devil fruit user, with miles and miles of sea now doubtlessly between them and…

Compartmentalization. Law was getting some good practice in. 

Ikkaku was only partially wrong when she called it a wandering phase. It wasn’t a phase so much a habit, one Law tried not to indulge—notwithstanding a pirating career could theoretically be described as wandering the seas.

It started when he was young. He couldn’t remember the first time precisely, beyond his mother’s relieved hug and his father’s stern lecture when he returned home. He’d said sorry and probably somewhat meant it because of how stressed his mother had been. 

But then he did it again. Didn’t come home after school one day, not until the sun had fallen in the sky. His father sat him down for a serious talk. Why are you doing this? Where is this coming from? You’re worrying your mother and me.

“I don’t know,” Law admitted. “Sometimes I just need to get away.”

He was seven so that didn’t do much to alleviate his parents’ concern. And his childhood was a happy one, before the sickness. But sometimes, everything just became too much; when he struggled to understand a textbook and saw his future as a surgeon crumbling before his eyes; when his favorite neighbor contracted a mysterious illness and died; when he and Lami got into a real, shake-the-walls argument. There was this pressure that built up so much he almost couldn’t breathe. So he’d leave and wander around the island without thinking too much. It was like he could leave his problems behind when he went somewhere new, somewhere where he wasn’t really him, where he could almost pretend nothing bad had happened, long enough to pull himself back together before going home. 

His worried parents eventually acquiesced with some caveats. Tell us when you leave. Don’t go to the mines. Be back before dark. Remember we love you, Law, no matter what.

Law didn’t know if it was irony or fate that his wandering of Flevance gave him enough knowledge of the land’s geography to enable his escape.

So no, it wasn’t a phase, just a bad reoccurring case of cabin fever, the type that only popped up in specific times, where it wasn’t so much as the walls closing in as it was the cabin filling up with water and Law couldn’t swim. Wandering, well… sometimes that was the only way Law could stay afloat. 

It was not until nearly the third week on board that Law was afforded a chance at escape. The marine ship would occasionally dock but Law was kept locked in the bunk room that was irritatingly sealed up like a vault. But not today. Apparently it was some sort of mandated relaxation. Corin and his friends gathered Law and Dog and snuck them off the ship, right under Captain Moreno’s nose. Probably because another rookie was distracting him. The young marines were right; that man was a walking talking textbook. 

The disembarkment would have been a wonderful boon if it wasn’t for the fact a goddamn leash and collar were put on Law. The indignity was beyond words. But Law didn’t let that stop him. As soon as his paws hit solid ground, he mustered all his energy and took off like a shot, intending to yank the leash right out of Corin’s hand. 

He nearly hung himself. Corin wasn’t even perturbed by the escape attempt, just glanced down from his conversation with Sadie to give Law a light scolding, like all his powerful strength amounted to that of a flea. 

Dog offered some panting sympathy while Law fumed. His own leash was loosely held by Sadie. 

Biting Corin’s ankles would probably not fall in Law’s favor but he briefly considered it anyway, just on principle. When Corin tried to walk away, Law sat firmly down on the ground. 

“C’mon, Grumpy! Bad dog!” Corin pulled hard at the leash, practically choking Law. He might have let himself be suffocated just to prove a point but Dog, hovering nearby, was obviously growing upset. The look on his face reminded Law so much of Bepo that Law reluctantly followed, directing the death glare of all death glares at Corin’s back. 

Being taken on a walk by junior marines must really be the lowest point of Law’s pirating career. If it was possible to go lower, Law would rather take his chances swimming solo in the ocean.

There were hordes of people in the city they were docked at. He didn’t recognize the island. It was possibly part of the island cluster but it was just as likely they’d moved on. The junior marines complained a lot about their superiors and training and rival marine units but weren’t so inclined to give detailed reports to their captive dogs about vessel assignments. They could still be tracking the Pirate King or on some new patrol route. 

The marines ambled along the streets, chatting with each other. Dog trotted at the lead, sniffing everything curiously and receiving lots of attention. Dragging along at the rear, even despite his gloomy attitude, Law received some too. He was used to people staring since he stood out in general with his tattoos and his sword, even if no one recognized his very recognizable and wanted face. But that was not how people looked at him now. If he never had to hear the phrase Aw what a cutie! again, he could die with at least a little relief. 

They reached a large park in the city center. The marines were gossiping about one of their peers who Law had unfortunately gained an encyclopedic knowledge on due to Sadie’s level of loathing for this individual. They settled in a lush grassy area by a beautiful pond filled with wildlife, letting Dog off his leash and rudely tying Law to a bench. Law stewed in fury, swearing revenge. Dog ran around the edge of the pond barking at a duck. 

It was early afternoon. The heat was already unbearable but that didn’t stop the park from filling up with kids and families and raucous fun. 

When it happened, it happened very fast. 

The marines were getting quite worked up about their juicy Navy gossip which involved a lot of exclamations and handwaving. They were not paying close attention to either of their hostage canines. 

Law was busy trying to unravel his leash’s knot which was extraordinarily difficult without dexterous appendages. But the marines had not anticipated a dog who understood the intricacies of knots so it gradually started to loosen. 

Meanwhile, the duck ignored all of Dog’s overtures so he turned his attention to a nearby family of swans. This was a grave mistake on his part. 

Sadie yelled something along the lines of, “Who the hell does she think she is?” right as Law’s knot slipped free and a swan attacked, radiating an aura of pure bloodlust. 

“Holy shit!” Corin exclaimed, which Sadie thought was about her arch-nemesis but was in fact directed towards the avenging fury of a swan father. 

“Ah fuck!” Hana cried out, which wasn’t directed towards either of their problems but at Law’s newfound freedom.

Dog did the only sensible thing any living creature would do when faced with such avian wrath. He turned tail and ran.

“Shit!” Corin yelled again, leaping up and causing Sadie to finally turn around to the sight of her favorite well-behaved dog fleeing a pissed-off swan. 

“Hey come back!” Sadie called out, dismayed. 

Hana shot to her feet yelling, “Grumpy, stay!” while Law gathered the leash in his teeth. If he could have flipped her off, he would have. Instead, he took great satisfaction in leaving her in the dust as he took off as well. 

“GET BACK HERE!” Hana shrieked, presumably in pursuit. 

“Fucking shit!” was Corin’s contribution.

It was a race through the city. Law ducked and weaved between legs and carts. The crowds clamored around him, noises and smells overwhelming. He ran with no discernible direction beyond get away. 

“That’s my dog!” he heard Corin cry out. “Stop him!” 

Hands grabbed at Law but he expertly dodged, zigzagging through the throngs of people, cutting corners and twisting through tight spaces to hopefully outpace and lose his pursuers. He ran until his lungs nearly gave out and only then did he finally turn down a secluded alleyway and slow to a halt, chest heaving and mouth aching from how tightly he’d clenched his jaw around the leash. 

There was no sign of the marines. 

Law caught his breath, panting heavily. He had to consider his next step carefully. A second escape attempt would not be so easily given. Assumedly the marines would be docked no more than a day, so Law just had to elude them until the ship departed and then figure out his own way off this island. It’s not like they could put out lost dog posters. Law and Dog were illegal pets. 

…what about Dog?

The best course of action was to assume the marines would find him and bring him back aboard. They’d reveal his presence to their Vice Admiral who would be bewitched by Dog’s adorableness and he’d become the mascot of the New World Government, living out the rest of his days as the most pampered Navy dog in history. 

It was the reasonable assumption, surely. Law was faced with the daunting and possibly impossible task of navigating the human world as a stray (now complete with a collar to make everything more suspicious) as he tried to retrace his steps. It would not be fair to drag Dog along on that journey. 

His heart panged.

But what if the marines don’t find him? came Law’s insidious inner voice. What if he got lost on the streets all alone as he’d been when Law first found him? What if he found himself trapped again? Or someone with unkind intentions picked him up next? The world could be very cruel.

It was folly to go back on the streets with the marines searching for him. They’d probably recruited some other rookies to help out, alongside some well-meaning citizens. Law stood out. And he had no clue where Dog was. The city was huge and they hadn’t fled in the same direction. Even if he wanted to, attempting to track him down was unfeasible. 

Dog’s round face had been so hopeful when Law first found him in that junk pile. He’d guarded Law so fiercely even though they just met. 

He had to try. If he could just get eyes on Dog, make sure he was safe, then he could focus on getting back to the devil fruit user. 

Mind made up, Law cautiously poked his head out the alley. There weren’t as many people mulling around on this side of town. No sign of marine white. Law stepped out, treading the streets with trepidation, heading towards the busy market streets along the docks. 

The only place Law could think of where Dog might have ended up was somewhere with food—preferably with a lot of meat. 

Still not fully used to his formidably competent canine nose, he tried sifting through the numerous stimulating scents. Potent perfumes and stinking fish, sweat and musk, sea salt air and smoky fire, it all blended and mixed together as he headed back towards the busy port with a sharp eye. He passed a butcher’s shop, a bakery (still disgusting, even as a dog), and dozens of restaurants, all with no sign of his erstwhile companion. 

A passing child boggled at Law and asked his mother if he looked lost. Law scuttled past without hearing the response and turned down a side road. More smells from the seaside market drifted through and Law caught a waft of sizzling meat. He peered out onto the crowded main street. A vendor was set up with a full barbecue. The stall was attracting a large crowd of people, both queuing up and mulling around eating. Law scanned them briefly before beginning to turn away, disappointed. Then a flash of bright white caught his eye. 

It was Dog. Law had almost missed him. He was partially blocked, receiving some much appreciated pets from a squatting figure with their back turned. Dog was panting happily when his nose twitched and his eyes darted to Law. Even from here, Law could see how Dog lit up. A rush of warmth ran through him. The risk had been worth it. 

After a quick glance around with no sign of any marines, Law warily took a step out from the side street. The person petting Dog started to turn, probably curious what got his attention. 

Law’s breath caught in his throat. The world slowed down. All around him, the crowds and bustling noise faded to a distant hum until it was as if a devil fruit user had frozen time. 

Because there, beyond all careful reasoning, stood the Pirate King.

A bird once flew into a hospital window in Flevance. Many worried medical professionals gathered around but it was Law’s father who ended up taking it home after the broken wing was discovered. That’s because Lami was there that day, stepping on Law’s heels as he trailed after their father. 

It should have been a rather unmemorable occasion. Law called their new house guest an interesting specimen, mostly to annoy Lami, but also because it would afford him a close-up study of mending bones. 

To Lami, though, that bird meant everything. 

She named her new best friend Birdie (another strike against Trafalgar creativity) and spent every free moment she could with her (“Only girls are this pretty!” Lami declared, not very well-versed in avian biology at the ripe age of six). Birdie was beautiful, a gray songbird with a bright yellow belly, who went right back to twittering melodies within a couple days. Lami painstakingly built her a comfortable nest that she kept in her room. She showed off her new friend at school and even secretly carried her to the oceanside because she believed Birdie was missing the wide open air. 

But the wing healed fast. Only two weeks after Birdie arrived, Law’s father broke the news that it was time. Lami’s face screwed up immediately, fat tears rolling down her cheeks as she insisted that Birdie should stay. 

“Birdie’s all healed up,” said their father gently. “She needs to go home.”

“She is home!” Lami wailed. “She belongs with me!” 

But she already recognized their father’s kind but firm look that meant he wouldn’t budge. So Lami turned to their mother, then to Law, and must have concluded no one was on her side because she pushed back her chair and fled the room. 

Their mother followed and Law did too, admittedly less because he was sympathetic to the cause and more from the innate voyeuristic need to watch the outcome of a sibling’s current drama. 

Lami was bawling in her bed, tears soaking her pillow. Birdie was close by on the nightstand in her carefully constructed home away from home. 

“Lami,” called their mother. 

“GO AWAY!” Lami shrieked. 

Their mother sat on the bed and tenderly picked up Lami’s braid. For a few quiet moments, she didn’t say anything, just unwove the tangled strands while Law watched from the doorway. 

“What am I going to do with you, Lami?” their mother finally said. “You love so much. You always have.”

Lami hiccuped. “I-it’s your fault,” she accused. “It’s a family trait!” Despite the hoarseness from her sobs, she quoted it in the same proud yet self-effacing tone their mother always used. 

“I’m afraid you caught me,” their mother teased. “You know how your father and I met?”

This was one of Lami’s favorite stories. “You saw him across the room and he was really handsome so you got married. Love at first sight.” She sniffled loudly. 

Law watched the smile bloom on his mother’s face. “That’s right. The moment I saw him, I knew he was the one. That we were forever, before I even knew his name. Freaked him out a bit, honestly. Thought I ruined everything for a time.”

“He loved you too,” said Lami, voice muffled in the pillow as nimble fingers worked themselves through her loosened hair. “Even though you were kinda scary. It was a ‘whirlwind romance.’” She said that last part in the same inflection their father did. 

“Scary?!” their mother repeated, in a ‘who, me?’ type of voice. There was a nostalgic look in her eyes. “Couldn’t’ve been too scary! We married only four months after we met.” She began to re-braid Lami’s hair. “I’m afraid that’s how we Trafalgars love. Everything all at once.”

Over in her little home, Birdie gave a somber trill. 

“I know you love Birdie,” said their mother gently. “I know you love her so much, Lami, and that thinking of her flying away hurts. Love hurts, sometimes.” She twisted a band at the end of the braid before giving it a small tug. 

Lami rolled over onto her back, face splotchy and cheeks still wet with tears. “I don’t want her to go. I want her to stay!”

“I know.” Their mother drew her into her chest. “But even though you love so much, sometimes that’s not enough. Sometimes love means letting go.” 

“Then I hate love!” 

Their mother brushed a stray strand away from her face. “I don’t believe that for a second. You love love, just like I do, even though it can hurt in terrible ways. Maybe that’s why they call it heart break. They take pieces of your heart away.”

“Doesn’t that mean my heart gets smaller?” asked Lami. Her eyes began to droop, worn out from the emotion. 

“No,” said their mother, cradling her close. “It just means they take your love with them, even if they don’t know it.”

“Oh. That doesn’t sound so bad,” Lami murmured sleepily.

Her eyes closed as exhaustion overtook her, so she didn’t see the expression on their mother’s face. But Law did. “Perhaps not,” their mother said. She glanced up at Law as Lami drifted off and gestured to him. 

Law crept over quietly, standing beside the bed and allowing her to draw him into a one-armed hug. He rested against her, even though he didn’t need hugs. But she seemed like she did. “You don’t need to worry,” he told her. Even though they fought sometimes, he’d always look out for Lami. 

She huffed. “Oh Law. The way you love, the way you both love… it’s impossible for a mother to not worry. It can’t be helped.” She squeezed him and whispered into his hair, “Sometimes love is like that too. Inescapable.”

Monkey D. Luffy had grown up. 

Law had noticed, despite himself. He’d tried to ignore the newspaper photos documenting how over the years Luffy gradually filled out, lost the rubbery baby fat in his cheeks, achieved some truly spectacular muscles. But that was a theoretical Luffy on page, vibrant in his own way, but far from something tangible and real. In Law’s mind, Luffy was as he’d left him all those years ago. 

But here he was, incomparable to the one in print. Hunched over in a dog-petting stance, dressed in plain loose clothes with a thin black cape and his straw hat strung around his neck, he should pass as another simple traveler but Law didn’t see how anyone could make that mistake; not when energy thrummed around him like a livewire, a force of nature tightly coiled and bursting at the seams.

Law tried to comprehend the inexplicable sight in front of him, unable to dismiss it as a hallucination because Luffy’s presence demanded not to be ignored. He’d known, of course, the Pirate King was in the area. Had felt almost hunted with how the location of the Straw Hats never seemed too far away from the Hearts for months now. But he’d still thought they wouldn’t run into each other. Made sure their paths would never cross. Hadn’t prepared himself for this eventuality. 

“Are you onigiri’s friend?” asked Luffy nonsensically. 

Dog trotted over to Law, nuzzling him affectionately, thankfully unharmed from his spat with the swan. But Law couldn’t pay any attention to him, not as Luffy’s voice washed over him, deeper and richer than before; not as Luffy straightened up, backlit by the sun; not as Luffy drew closer and closer one step at a time; not as Luffy stood in front of him, forcing Law’s head all the way back to see. 

He was clearly taller. Surely not taller than Law though… current form excluded. That might be the sort of thing Luffy would accomplish just by sheer bullheaded competitiveness but the universe had to give Law a win somewhere, right?

After all, here was Luffy, showing up to an unanticipated reunion looking tall and strong, resembling some sort of ethereally handsome scruffy god descended from the heavens. Meanwhile Law had shown up as a certifiable floof-ball. 

Life really wasn’t fair. 

“You are!” Luffy nodded in a self-satisfied way, like he’d just solved a head scratching mystery. “I’m Monkey D. Luffy, King of the Pirates!” He crouched down and held out a hand for Law to sniff. Luffy smelled of the sea, rubber and salt mixed with ozone, a tell for the power lurking beneath. It was a heady smell, filtering through Law like a strong incense. Familiar, too, as achingly familiar as the shishishi that accompanied it and the dark brown eyes Law could lose himself in.

Luffy smiled, that same bright grin that would play in Law’s mind during nights he couldn’t sleep. He exuded all the boyish charm and foolish attractiveness that always led Law to question everything about himself, that such a dumb look could send his heart aflutter. 

Firm, rubbery fingers brushed through the fur of his head. Law’s ears twitched and he swayed forward. 

“Are you lost? Zoro gets lost all the time.” Luffy laughed boisterously at that, affection obvious. “Onigiri was worried about you.”

Law took a moment to run that befuddling sentence over in his head before it clicked. Oh. Onigiri. Luffy meant Dog. Law glanced over. Dog was standing by, tail wagging enthusiastically as he watched Law receive pets. He didn’t seem jealous of Luffy’s singular attention, more pleased that Law was getting some. Now that it was pointed out, he did resemble onigiri—just as round as Law was but with a large splotch of black fur on his back shaped like a diamond. He seemed un-offended by the new name bestowed upon him. Well, fine. It was probably better than Dog, not that Law would ever admit that to Luffy. 

Had he been worried for Law, just as Law had been? 

Onigiri noticed the attention and eagerly rubbed against him, far too similar to a Bepo hug when he was upset at Law for doing (in his words) something really dumb. When Law got out of this mess, he expected to be greeted with one. 

Law leaned into Onigiri as Luffy’s fingers skittered down Law’s body. They stopped along his sides, tracing circles over the spots in his fur. 

“You have such a grumpy look on your face,” Luffy commented. 

Law glared though he supposed it was good to know his resting bitch face transcended species. 

Luffy cracked up. “You’re the grumpiest dog I’ve ever seen! You’re so funny!”

Disgruntled, Law tried to pull away but Luffy softened the teasing by giving him some vigorous pets. It must be canine instinct that made Law stay put. He sank into the ministrations. It felt good, terribly enough. On the marine ship, he’d bitten anyone who tried to touch him. But this… no wonder dogs loved pets. 

“Hey,” Luffy said. “Wanna join my crew?”

Law’s eyes snapped open.

“Onigiri can too,” Luffy added. His hands slithered around Law. Before he could blink, Luffy stood up, holding Law in front of him like he was preparing to have a very serious conversation with a baby. “It would be so fun.”

“Aruff!” Law complained, short legs kicking pathetically. This degrading position reminded him that Luffy had no clue who he was. Not that it would’ve stopped him if he did. If anything, Luffy was treating Law politely and it probably would’ve been much worse if he knew who actually dwelled in this tiny body. 

“Shishishi, c’mon, join my crew! You’ll love everyone!” 

And despite Luffy not knowing, the invitation still rankled. Law had carefully maintained his independence of Luffy as his ally’s status shot above his own, especially after their renewed alliance on Laugh Tale. Friends, yes, he’d reluctantly admitted, but equals. Luffy himself always treated Law as such but Law was well aware how others would see it if Law let the lines blur. 

But Law was in a bit of a… predicament, one could call it. An extremely embarrassing one, of which Luffy was the obvious solution. Perhaps Law could navigate his way back to the devil fruit user but there was a very real chance he’d end up somewhere worse than collared on a marine ship. He really didn’t have much of a plan beyond hoping some luck would fall into his lap. And, well… 

…if this was the freebie he was being handed, Law would like to have some words with the universe. 

Luffy waited patiently. Even though he could just tuck Law under his arm and drag him across creation—something he had unfortunately done many times before when Law was not pocket-sized—he was waiting for some sort of assent. That was the thing with Luffy, wasn’t it? He demanded and cajoled, was unapologetic in his selfishness, but in the end wanted the best for those he cared about, wanted to give people the freedom to live life as they pleased. Woe to anyone concerned if Luffy thought what was best for them meant being with him. 

It was the simple answer but Law still hesitated. Luffy was really the last person he wanted here. The last person he’d expected to see, even if that was perhaps foolish. Because what would happen after Law’s identity was revealed? What would happen after this mess was concluded? 

Would it really be so easy to sail away again? 

But his crew was looking for him. They were definitely worried by now. Law could swallow some of his pride if it meant getting home to them. Luffy would ensure that. No matter how much time had passed since last they met, he always knew Luffy would never turn his back on him. The bastard. Law hated how reliable he was. 

Onigiri barked. Law peered down to see he was wagging his tail encouragingly. The traitor obviously loved Luffy immediately. 

After this, Law thought glumly, he would most certainly be making it his life’s mission to never see the Straw Hats again. Their teasing was going to be insufferable. 

He gave in with a despondent, “Arff.” Chopper could talk to animals. This whole fiasco could be done and over, quickly and efficiently, with as little public humiliation as possible. 

Luffy’s smile shone with the force of the sun. “Wahoo!” he cheered, whirling around in a dizzying circle, taking Law along for the ride. “You’ll love everyone!” 

Law did not get a chance to protest the celebration. An angry shout broke through the crowd. 

“Hey! Those are my dogs!” 

Luffy stopped, puzzled. Corin was pushing his way through the crowd with grim determination before suddenly drawing up short, a comical expression of complete horror forming. 

“Your dogs?” Luffy repeated. He glanced down at Law as though noticing the leash and collar for the first time.  

Law vehemently shook his head. 

Luffy understood that easily enough. “Nah. They’re not yours.”

“Y-you’re t-the…” Corin gaped, his voice sputtering out to leave an awkward silence. People were starting to stare.

“I’m Monkey D. Luffy, King of the Pirates!” Luffy helpfully declared. A wave of whispers broke out.

Corin’s mouth opened and closed like a beached fish. 

“We’re leaving,” Luffy added, tucking Law carefully under his arm and scooping Onigiri up in the other one. He turned away, unbothered by both the marine and the forming crowd. 

“Y-you—” tried Corin. Behind him, Hana suddenly stumbled out a side street, followed by another junior marine. Law’s suspicions of possible recruited help was correct. The backup gave Corin enough confidence to shout, “H-hey! HEY! Come back! You’re under arrest! Stop him! The Pirate King is stealing my dogs!” 

The alarm was raised. Seemingly out of nowhere, marines began to pour onto the main street. 

“Ah man,” Luffy said. “Nami’s gonna be so mad.” Then took off running down the main street with an entire Navy battalion on his tail.

Sandals slapping against the pavement, Luffy careened through the crowd. Most people darted out of the way but a few brave souls attempted to apprehend him, spurred on by the copious shouts from the pursuing marines. One brave contingent of citizens were swept aside by an elongated rubbery leg, knocked into a group of marines trying to cut them off. Luffy cut through the opening and tripped over a vegetable cart, sending its products rolling around the ground and starting a domino effect with the next cluster of marines rounding the corner. His laughter caught on the wind, ringing above the angered yells and surprised cries.

As he bounced along in Luffy’s grip, Law thought about how he could have been a simple doctor, in another life. He did his best to peek around Luffy’s stomach to catch a glimpse of Onigiri who was panting hard and completely unbothered.

Luffy sprung up, landing on a roof and sliding down the tiles to make it to the other side. The Thousand Sunny appeared, docked proudly in open view of the busy port. A crowd of onlookers were gawking at it even before Luffy burst onto the scene. 

“NAMI!” Luffy hollered. “SORRY! WE GOTTA GO!” He landed hard on the cobblestone and raced towards his ship, sending startled bystanders scattering out the way. 

The Straw Hat’s navigator popped her head over the railing. Even from this distance, Law could see her vexation as she yelled. “Luffy! What did I say about keeping a low profile?” Her eyes slid past Luffy and her mouth dropped open. The cacophony behind them grew louder as the marines presumably turned the corner. “Oh my god, what did you do? JINBEI!” She disappeared out of view. 

Luffy’s laughter continued. Another group of marines appeared on the opposite end of the docks, rapidly drawing closer. Sunny’s wood creaked as she began moving. A rubbery arm coiled around Law a second time and then stretched out to grab Sunny’s mast. They zipped through the air at a dizzying speed as the sails picked up wind. Luffy landed perfectly on deck and straightened up, giving Law the perfect view of Jinbei working the helm as a frazzled Nami screeched something to another unseen member of the crew. The marine shouts continued from land, accompanied by gunfire now that they were sailing into the open sea. 

Luffy held Law and Onigiri up in front of his chest, protecting them should a stray bullet whizz past. Law stared out at the familiar ship, nostalgia hitting despite the chaotic scene. It had been a long time. Never had he imagined his return would be via inadvertent recruitment.

“Shishishi! Welcome to the crew!”

—

The Thousand Sunny sailed peacefully in the open ocean. There was a pleasant calm settling now that the cries from shore had faded. Law’s sixth sense tingled, screaming danger. 

BONK

“What the hell was that, Luffy?!”

The Straw Hat navigator loomed above her captain with a menacing aura reminiscent of some ancient otherworldly terror. 

“Oww," whined the fearsome Pirate King, rubbing at the bump on his head with his free hand. 

Nami’s gaze swung down to Law. Her lips pinched. “Luffy,” she gritted out. “What is that?”

Luffy held Law up proudly like he was a prize fish he’d just caught. Law had been carried through the entire country of Dressrosa with all the propriety one would have for a sack of potatoes and yet this moment—being gripped beneath his front legs so that all four dangled helplessly akimbo in mid-air—was somehow his most undignified yet. 

“This is Hat,” said Luffy. 

What the fuck? Law wanted to kick up some sort of fuss but all the energy normally reserved for being upset had been utterly drained. 

“And that’s Onigiri!” Luffy jostled Law in the direction where Onigiri was sniffing at Jinbei’s feet, blissfully free, the lucky bastard. 

Nami’s hands went to her hips. “Luffy, why are there two dogs on board?”

“They’ve joined our crew!” 

Nami stared hard at Luffy then down at Law. Law stared back, caught between praying they would never figure out this was him and trying to communicate he was indeed Trafalgar Law, in desperate need of some assistance. 

“Hat?” Nami repeated. She raised an eyebrow. “What are we going to do with two dogs, Luffy?”

“What do you mean?” Luffy looked perplexed. He shook Law at Nami again. “Look at him! Look at all his spots!” 

“They’re both pretty cute,” Nami admitted. “This one kinda looks like a baby seal.”

Law watched a flock of seagulls flying past, wondering what sort of deity he had insulted in a past life. 

Luffy turned him around so they were face to face again. “You’re gonna love it here, Hat! Sanji’ll make you the best food! Ah, he’s my cook. He’s the best cook ever.” 

“Luffy, this isn’t like recruiting Chopper to the crew. Someone has to take care of them!” 

Law was still stuck on baby seal. 

“Dogs can make excellent companions.” Jinbei came over to join the conversation, head turned to watch Onigiri follow closely behind, still intently sniffing him. “Very loyal and can be great protectors.”

Onigiri switched his interest to Nami’s sandals, nosing around them curiously. Nami eyed him dubiously.

“By the way, where should we head to meet the others?” asked Jinbei. 

Nami smacked her hand against her forehead. “Oh, that’s right! Luffy!” She delivered a harsher punch to her captain, sending his entire head swinging to the side like a demented tether ball. “We left half our crew on land because of you!” 

Luffy’s head snapped back. He laughed, completely unashamed. “Whoops!” 

“Including Sanji,” Nami reminded. “He was out shopping. Dinner’s gonna be late now!”

“Aww, I’m so hungry though!”

“Well maybe you should have thought of that before alerting an entire unit of…” Nami trailed off. She seemed to be calculating something in her head and not liking the results. “Luffy.”

“Huh?” asked Luffy, blasé. 

“Did you just kidnap two marine dogs?”

Luffy looked to the side and pursed his lips. “No.”

They were still going at it when Franky came on deck. “Yow! What’s this?” he called over Onigiri’s barking and Nami’s vicious lecturing as she shook Luffy like a rag doll. 

“Our new crewmates, I believe,” Jinbei told him. “We’re currently circling back to collect the rest of our friends.”

“Nice! Hey there, little bro!” Franky knelt down to greet Law who had been thankfully released from Luffy’s grasp. Law reared back, firmly stamping down on any doggish instincts when they’d soon find out it was him. Onigiri ran up to Franky in alarmed curiosity, not seeming to know what to make of him, alternating between sniffing him cautiously and running around in circles. Franky wasn’t bothered. From within the confines of his machinery, he stretched out a dangling cord that Onigiri immediately latched onto in a game of tug o’ war. 

Nami sighed. “That’s Onigiri. This one’s Hat.”

“Two new little buddies? Suuuper!” 

“Onigiri and Hat?” Jinbei repeated. He stared closely at Law who tried not to meet his eyes. Jinbei currently held the record as the Straw Hat to have witnessed the least of Law’s humiliations and had retained some semblance of respect for him when last they met. Apparently that was being corrected.

Onigiri and Franky were already great friends. Nami watched Franky play with Onigiri then side-eyed where Luffy was snatching Law up again. Even in the midst of his struggle to get away from Luffy’s arms, Law caught the moment she resigned herself to the inevitable. “Alright, alright. We need to head back and pick everyone up without pissing off a whole contingent of marines. Again.”

“We can just beat ‘em up,” Luffy shrugged. “C’mon, Hat, let me show you Sunny!”

Nami glared suspiciously at him but Luffy didn’t stick around for another potential lecture. She was certainly right to be wary of his intentions. Luffy wandered around Sunny, giving Law a tour just long enough for the coast to be clear. Then he took Law straight to the galley, as pristinely clean and booby-trapped as Law remembered. 

Luffy placed Law on the kitchen island which doubtlessly would displease Sanji. But it gave Law a front row seat to Luffy raiding the fridge, which included a blaring alarm that was disabled within two wails and a painful looking mouse trap snapping down on rubbery fingers. It was only minutes before the fridge was open. Luffy was never more brilliant than when something lay between him and meat. 

Law watched as Luffy stuck his head in. There was a strong déjà vu to the scene, though nothing quite like this had ever happened before. Being back on this ship, with these people, after all this time… it was uncanny in its familiarity. It had never mattered how much he pushed memories away over the years. They’d come back, forceful as their central star. And, truthfully, a part of Law didn’t want to forget. 

A small but juicy steak was placed in front of him. Law stared down at it in surprise, having fully expected to be a mere spectator. Luffy was already gobbling up his own giant’s share but that didn’t mean much. Luffy could always eat more. But it had been a long time, Law reminded himself. Who knew in what ways Luffy had changed? Besides, he was hungry. It had been a long day. He dug in, devouring the meat in a most definitely ferocious manner as Luffy inhaled his own food. There was a companionable silence as they ate. 

“Sanji’s food is the best, isn’t it?” 

Law looked up, mouth full. Luffy had finished and was watching him. 

It was good, of course. Sanji’s cooking was always perfection and it tasted familiar, like meeting an old friend. Not unlike Clione’s food, in a way, which perhaps was not as good as Sanji’s but which Law would always choose if he had to pick. There was nothing like the taste of home. 

“Glad you like it,” said Luffy. “I bet you’re really picky.”

Law huffed, nibbling his way through the last remnants of his steak. 

“It’s ‘cause you’re like Torao.” 

For a second, nothing about that sentence registered as bizarre. Law was Torao, after all, even if it had been awhile since he’d been called that. Then his paws entered his periphery. No, he was nothing like Torao at all. He stared up at Luffy indignantly. 

Luffy’s expression was surprisingly soft. “You look like him,” he said, which was even worse. He seemed to sense Law’s irritation and laughed. “Torao has a hat that’s all white and fluffy with spots, just like you.” He reached back to where his straw hat hung on its string and pulled it onto his head. “The hat’s important to him.”

Oh. Law hadn’t really gotten a good look at himself. He’d seen the spots but hadn’t realized he resembled his hat. He didn’t know how to feel about that. 

“Ah, Torao would like you and Onigiri a lot. He really likes cute things.” 

“Ruff,” said Law, offended. He did not like cute things and even if he did, Luffy didn’t need to go around exposing all his secrets. 

Luffy crossed his arms on the counter and rested his chin. “I haven’t seen Torao in a long time.” 

They were awfully close. Law’s heart stuttered. He could count the multi-colored flecks of brown in Luffy’s eyes. Luffy wasn’t looking at him though. He was looking somewhere far away. 

It had been a long time. Five years, in fact. It was strange to sit here and listen to Luffy talk about that. Law always believed that Luffy didn’t think about him at all. Why would he? Law was a long-gone ally and Luffy didn’t look to the past. Law thought about that a lot because he thought about Luffy all the time, even when he tried not to. 

There was an unusual pensive expression on Luffy. Luffy who was different now, older, a stranger in many ways. Law couldn’t imagine what he was thinking. He thought about moving close, offering a comforting nudge. Dogs could be good for a blue mood. Law read a study once. 

But he held himself back. Hopefully Chopper would be back on board soon enough and the Straw Hats could have their laugh and then put to work their insane reliability to recover Law’s humanity. Maybe there would be too much chaos following that, between the devil fruit user and the shape-shifting and getting back to Law’s crew, enough that he and Luffy wouldn’t have any time to talk. And then Law would return to his submarine and sail away yet again, full of fresh new memories to keep him awake at night. That was the only way it could be for him.

It was just as well. The galley door slammed open to reveal Sanji, who was less than pleased by the canine paws on his kitchen counter.

Love, after all, was a tricky thing. Law spent a lot of time trying not to think about it, even more time trying to run away. It was better off carefully tucked away in the dark recesses of his soul. 

That was easy enough after Flevance, when he believed all his love had burned away to ashes. Then there was Cora, who Law hated, with his smile and clumsiness and tears, hated so much until one day it tipped over and all at once it wasn’t hatred anymore. Except then he was gone. Law was left with clear skin, new abilities, another piece of his heart lost, and echoes in his mind of a baffling Law, I love you, which never made any sense no matter which way Law examined it. 

After Cora, he told himself never again. 

Love didn’t hurt sometimes. It hurt all the time and Law decided he didn’t love love at all and would be better off without it as he set out on a quest for revenge. It’s not like his mother was around to be disappointed by his numerous bad decisions. 

He met a lost little polar bear a few days later. 

That’s how it was. Love kept finding Law when he least expected it. Right when he wanted it least though perhaps, one could say (though Law never did), also right when he needed it most. 

In an ideal world, Law would have liked to reunite with the Straw Hat crew holding some amount of grace while communicating his current plight. Unfortunately, as was common when dealing with the world contender for migraine origins, Law was afforded basically none. 

Instead of putting Law down like any sensible person would do with a sentient, mobile creature, Law tucked Law under his arm as he brought him to face the music. It was unbelievable, really. No matter what form Law was in or how long it had been since they’d seen each other, Luffy was still determined to manhandle him like a piece of luggage.

Luffy did set him back down on his feet outside, where Law staggered trying to regain his balance. The excruciating heat meant he started panting uncontrollably. This was a very cute look on Onigiri. Law tried very hard not to look the same.

“Oh my god, there’s two of them,” said Usopp. 

Law closed his mouth and tilted his head up. Canine instinct opened it right back up to help filter out the humidity. The entire Straw Hat crew surrounded him, looming like giants against the blue, cloudless sky. 

“Oh my.” Robin covered her mouth with a hand in an unsuccessful attempt to hide how adorable she thought he was. 

Zoro stared down at him with a disappointed expression. “This one doesn’t look like it can fight either.”

“Perhaps we should not attempt verifying that,” said Jinbei. Onigiri was sitting between him and Franky, wagging his tail happily at all the attention. 

“No no, let him. He’s finally found someone to communicate on his level.”

“You wanna say that again, curly-brows?!”

“You think they can fight?” asked Luffy, even more enthused. 

“No one is fighting the dogs!” Nami yelled. 

“Yohohoho, what an excellent addition to the crew! Some dogs are great appreciators of music!” 

Law cast his gaze around desperately for Chopper. Better to get this over with right away. 

Chopper, bless him, was a step ahead. He approached Law in his regular form, a carefully constructed doctor-approved bedside smile firmly fixed. It was nice not having to crane his neck back so much to look up at people. “Hi! I’m Chopper, I’m the crew’s doctor! You don’t need to be afraid, everyone’s really nice.” Chopper side-eyed Sanji and Zoro, still quarreling about utilizing tiny dogs as training partners. It was such a grown-up look, filled with a confidence that was missing years before. It elicited a strange feeling in Law. “Who are you?” 

Law’s words briefly failed him. The familiar faces swam in his periphery, faces he’d honestly thought he’d never see again. In the event of a reunion, this was about the worst case scenario. Anxiety wormed away in Law’s gut, born from so many different causes it would be impossible to unravel them all. But his crew must be worried sick by now. Law had to get home. He could not chicken out and spend the remainder of his days with fur just to avoid the embarrassment. 

Without further delay, he informed Chopper, “Roruff! Ruff woof arruf!!” and braced himself. 

There was a moment of silence. 

“Excuse me?” asked Chopper. 

“Ruff woof arruf,” Law repeated.

Chopper stared blankly. 

“What’s he saying?” asked Luffy eagerly. 

“Er.” Chopper rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not really sure. He’s just talking Dog. I can’t understand him.”

Law’s stomach dropped. A scenario where Chopper didn’t understand him hadn’t even crossed his mind. “Ruff woof arruf!” he tried again, carefully enunciating. 

“You understood that one, didn’t you?” Sanji jerked his head towards Onigiri. 

Chopper turned to him. “Can you tell me what Hat’s saying?” he asked, having apparently already made introductions. 

“Arf roff warff awoof!” Onigiri explained. 

“Er, he can’t understand him either,” said Chopper. Trying hard to sound polite, “I think Hat is a little… different.” 

“Ah,” said Sanji, not bothering to disguise his insulting tone of voice that implied he interpreted that as Law being ‘not very bright.’

“Aw man,” said Usopp. “I was wondering what kinda hilarious things this one would say.”

“How strange!” Robin mused. “Is it another form of animal language? You’ve only ever encountered one, have you not?”

Chopper nodded.

“So Hat’s a mystery dog!” said Luffy wisely. 

A nugget of nausea took root. “Roruff ruff arruf!” Law exclaimed at Onigiri desperately. Tell him I’m human! Tell him about Kikoku! Tell him anything!

Onigiri panted back, of course not understanding a word but obviously upset at Law’s distress. “Arf woof waruff,” he said to Chopper. 

“What’s he saying now?” asked Franky. 

“Well… I think he’s saying they were lost. It’s a bit hard to tell even with Onigiri. Dogs tend to be pretty straightforward and… simple. He’s really nice though!”

“Aww.” That was enough for Nami to be charmed. She squatted down and took Onigiri’s face between her hands, massaging his ears. 

“I’m sure Hat’s nice too,” said Chopper diplomatically. “Most dogs are really friendly.”

Law was not feeling particularly friendly in this moment. 

“Not like Onigiri is,” Nami cooed. “Hat’s way too grumpy but Onigiri’s just a little cutie, right? Aren’t you just the best? Yes you are!”

Fuck you very much, thought Law, now exceptionally pissed off, getting flashbacks of the marines. He looked around, trying to figure out some other way to get his message across. Robin was watching him and he darted over to her, pawing at the deck in an attempt to spell out his name. 

Robin knelt down, brow furrowing. She was observing closely but the more Law tried to spell his name, the less his limbs would cooperate. A headache announced itself with an unpleasant throb. Giving up, he searched around for some loose items and spotted a pile of Usopp’s tools. 

“Oi! Bad dog!” Usopp squawked as Law dug through his things. Law ignored him, dragging the tools around to try and spell LAW. But the harder he concentrated, the more his brain turned to mush, headache pounding away at his head until his vision turned black. 

Someone pulled a wrench out of his teeth. 

“Bad Hat!” Nami screeched, shooing him away. He stumbled, spots swimming in his eyes. A furry body brushed against him. Usopp moved past, complaining loudly as he started gathering up the mess. 

Because it was a mess. Law stared as his vision cleared, cold washing over him despite the stifling heat. There had been no reason to try and convey his situation before, having been with the marines since the beginning. He’d assumed he couldn’t understand Onigiri because he was human. But something was stopping him from communicating. A part of the devil fruit’s curse, preventing any allusions of his humanity.

His ears rang with the revelation.

Gentle hands carefully picked him up. He didn’t fight the hold as numbness crept through his limbs. Long, thin fingers brushed through his fur. It was Robin, Law realized distantly, her calm voice filtering through the white noise. “—an adjustment,” she was saying. “Hat looks a little overwhelmed.”

Luffy popped up in front of him with a slight frown. “It’s okay, Hat. You’re not lost anymore! Sanji’ll make you really yummy food.”

“You a dog chef now, curly?”

“Shut the fuck up, marimo!” 

“Don’t you two start right now!” 

“Sorry, Nami-swan~!”

“Tch, of course you roll over that easy, love-cook.”

“Three thousand beri.”

“What the hell did I do, witch?”

The old, familiar chaos of the Straw Hat crew was taking over. Franky called for Onigiri. He’d been sitting at Robin’s feet but he followed his new name, drawn by the promise of a fun game. It grabbed the attention of Usopp and Chopper as well. Law watched as Onigiri began to play, instantly fitting right in with the crew.

“He’ll be okay, Luffy,” said Robin. “Just give him a little time.”

Law looked back. Luffy was still bending over to eye-level. When their gazes met, he reached out a hand and brushed it over the spots on Law’s back. It was a fleeting touch, barely a whisper against his fur, before Luffy pulled back to lower the straw hat over his eyes. His face was shadowed for a long, tense moment. Then he looked back up with his usual cheer. “M’kay. Take care of him, Robin!” He left, attempting (rather unsuccessfully) to follow Sanji into the kitchen. 

Robin cradled Law close. For all that Law hated these indignities forced upon him, the hold was comforting. She shuffled him in her arms, resting her cheek against his head. “They can be a lot at first,” she murmured. “But there’s no need to be afraid. You’re safe here. And Luffy likes you quite a bit.”

Law buried his face in her arm, not caring about appearances as the very real possibility that he was stuck with this form forever settled in his bones. He hadn’t been fully aware of the weight lifted off him earlier, too distracted by the shock of having Luffy in the flesh after all this time, the rush of emotions that came with him, as well as the promised embarrassment once the Straw Hats discovered his identity. 

But the truth was, as soon as he’d seen Luffy in that busy street, he thought everything would be okay.

Nothing was ever so easy for him. 

Robin carried him to the library, letting him rest on her lap as she picked up a book. Law did not fight it, lingered in the solace of an old friend’s company while despair flooded in. He didn’t know what he was going to do. Didn’t know what he could do. A part of him wanted to run away, an itch under his skin, the walls closing in. It might be better just living off the land and trying to search for a miracle rather than have this false hope dangled in front of him. 

But if he wanted a miracle, he was in the only place where he knew to look for one. Exhaustion overtook him and he slipped off to sleep with the smell of sea salt and ozone all around. 

Chapter Text

A door banged open, shattering the early afternoon calm. “Where is that shitty mutt?!” 

“Keep it down, curly. Some of us are enjoying the weather.” 

Sanji’s stomps screeched to a halt. “I don't need commentary from some overgrown moss lounging under the sun like he's also a dog!" 

“It is too nice out here for this!” came Nami’s voice.

“Sorry, Nami-swan~! Instead of some lovely iced juice, I shall be making delicious fruit smoothies!” Sanji moved away. 

Law poked his head out from around Zoro, double checking the coast was clear. 

“You really know how to piss Cook off,” said Zoro, sounding impressed. He picked up the juicer Law had stolen from the kitchen in a fit of pique. 

“Aruff,” said Law. Sanji was a gracious host to all manner of species but just because he fed Law well didn’t mean he’d allow Sanji to groom him in adorable ways to impress the ladies. Each time he tried, Law retaliated, which meant Sanji tried even harder. It was already a full-blown war. 

“Careful with him.” Zoro set the juicer aside for Sanji to stumble across later. “When he really gets going, he gets creative. And he knows how to hold a grudge.”

So do I, thought Law. 

Zoro looked amused. Over the past few days on board, he’d proven a reliable ally when Law needed to escape the more irritating members of this crew. Law sat back, watching as he polished Wado Ichimonji with confident, well-practiced gestures. He wondered if Kikoku had been found. Either way, whether it was from the dilapidated barrels or from an entrepreneurial scavenger, she was going to be upset when he retrieved her. A full month now, since that day in the alley. This was far beyond any time spent apart since he first found her. 

“You like swords?” 

Law glanced up from Wado. Zoro smirked at him, finishing off the polish and tossing the cloth aside. He tilted Wado so she caught the sun. A beautiful blade, shining from precise care and promising a ruthless reliability.

“Yeah you do,” said Zoro. “I can tell from that look in your eye.”

You can tell that but not that I’m actually human? Law groused.

“Wanna learn?” 

Law stared blankly. 

“How to sword fight,” Zoro clarified, like that was a normal thing to offer a dog as tall as his ankle scars. “Well, knife fight, in your case. Same principle with your size. Cook’ll probably get mad if I take one of his knives though…” He considered this quandary thoughtfully. 

This was one of the most ridiculous propositions Law had ever heard. He was completely on board. If he was stuck in this form, he may as well become the most deadly dog in the Grand Line.

Zoro’s grin was shark-like. “Oi, Usopp!” he yelled. 

From across the ship, “Ehh?”

“You have a knife?”

“Yeah! Why?”

“I need a knife!” 

“You have three swords!” 

“I need a knife!” 

“Why?”

“Oh my god, you two, some of us are trying to relax! Shut up!” 

“Hat needs a knife!” 

“Huh? The dog?!”

“Yeah!” 

“What the hell are you doing, Zoro? Five hundred beris per word yelled from now on! This is the first day in ages we’re not being cooked alive!” 

“You’re yelling too, Nami!” But Usopp appeared on the upper deck, looking skeptical. “Uhh, why does the scary dog need a knife?”

“So he can sword fight,” said Zoro, in a tone of voice implying Usopp was the dumb one for not getting it. 

Law stared up at where Usopp was warily eying him from the top of the stairs. Yes, there were a couple times where he’d purposefully terrorized Usopp. It was only to prevent him from attempting to rope Law into all the experiments and games Onigiri enjoyed so much and the method had proven wildly successful. 

Usopp blanched. “That dog is already out to get me! And now you’re gonna teach Hat how to be a swordsman? Swordsdog? Swordspooch? Swo—”

“Yeah. You got one?”

With a deep sigh, Usopp dug around the bag he was carrying. He pulled a small knife out. “This good?”

There were the sounds of a brief scuffle across deck followed by an ominous twang of rubber. Usopp’s eyes widened and he turned, instinctively gripping onto the guardrail right as his captain careened into him. For a brief moment, Usopp’s free arm waved frantically, trying to keep his balance, before he failed and they both went bouncing down the stairs to collapse in a heap at the bottom. 

Luffy wasted no time in scrambling off him, ignoring the oofs he elicited. “What’s happening?! Hat can fight?” His eyes were bright, grin huge. 

Usopp lurched to his feet and hit Luffy over the head. “I was holding a knife! You could’ve gutted me!” 

The responding laughter was completely unashamed. 

Zoro got to his feet. “Not yet. Give it here.” He examined the knife; Luffy’s curious close-up face tracked his every move. “Good make. It’ll work for now.” He squatted and turned the handle towards Law. “We’ll start with the mouth grip.”

“You’re seriously teaching that tiny demon dog how to sword fight?” 

“Hat’s not a demon dog, Usopp!” 

“Yes he is! He is plotting my untimely gruesome demise! You haven’t seen how he glares at me?”

“Shishishi, he’s not glaring at you, that’s just his face. It’s so cute!” 

“It is not cute! It is an evil glare that can only come from the depths of hell! When I die, Luffy, you’ll—”

Law sank his teeth carefully into the knife’s hilt, ignoring Usopp’s continued background ranting. A concerned thought crossed his mind that attempting some form of swordsmanship would be too much like exposing his humanity. He braced himself for the vicious throb in the back of his head that signaled he was skirting the edge of the devil fruit curse. But, thankfully, it didn’t come. 

Maybe the devil fruit thought sword fighting was an appropriate canine activity. Or perhaps it didn’t know what to make of sword fighting via mouth-wielding.

Excited anticipation coursed through him. 

“Yeah,” said Zoro, reaching out to expertly adjust Law’s grip. “You’re gonna do just fine.”

The very first night on board, Luffy tried to drag Law into his hammock for sleep. Law had survived several weeks as a new species only to almost die of a heart attack. 

A brawl started, not just between them but the entire room of men (minus Jinbei on watch) after Luffy accidentally kicked Usopp in the face, causing him to spill some ink on Sanji’s nearby jacket, whose irritation morphed into rage at Zoro’s analysis. Chopper joined in to feel included. Franky joined in because it was fun. Brook played some accompanying battle marches and Law escaped out the door.

Heart beating frantically, he lay down under a new moon. Mere hours and already the force of Luffy’s presence was threatening to overwhelm him. Law hadn’t asked for this. Had been perfectly fine without it. Being back here, irregardless of the Straw Hats not having a clue, was not what Law needed right now. What he did need was a solution to his fur problem and, lacking that, a way to get home. 

He was safe at least, excluding all the inherent dangers of simply existing around this crew’s questionable enthusiasm. Instead of worrying so much about escaping the marines, he could focus entirely on a solution and simply not think of anything else. 

What solution is that? asked his insidious inner voice. What is your next step, Law? It sounded like Doflamingo, mocking and overly amused. Law envisioned stabbing it in the heart. 

A wet nose nudged him in companionable reassurance. Onigiri had joined him outside, always seeming to sense when Law was feeling particularly woeful. Law gave him an affectionate headbutt. Even with the nocturnal heat, Onigiri eagerly curled up against him as had been habit every night on the marine ship. Law could feel the movement of his breaths, muting his worries and calming his mind. They fell asleep together just like that.

The next day, Franky built two doghouses, one for the deck and the other in the men’s quarters. Luffy was given explicit instructions to not bother them if they were hiding inside and despite his sulking, he mostly took it to heart. 

Law was busy the first couple days, which saw him wholly focused on experimenting with how to possibly outwit the devil fruit curse. But those attempts dwindled soon enough, though it took him blacking out so hard he lost time to reach the reluctant acceptance that he wouldn’t be able to impart his identity. He woke up under the scorching afternoon sun to Usopp outlining his body like a crime scene. Both Luffy and Onigiri peered worriedly at him during Chopper’s examination which ended in a confused announcement that there was nothing wrong. 

Hah. 

“Don’t do that, Hat,” Luffy scolded. He picked Law up, a now anticipated action considering Luffy lugged him everywhere like a mandated stress ball, glare and all. 

“Rrow,” replied Law and sank into the guilty pleasure that was Luffy’s embrace. 

The cold reality settled into his bones overnight. He was stuck in this form, stuck on this ship, stuck far away from his crew, and there really wasn’t much he could do. So he hid in the doghouse, ignoring all attempts at coaxing him out. Hours wallowing away, wondering if he would ever see his crew again. 

“Be gentle with him, Luffy,” was Robin’s practical advice. “He’s in a new place. We don’t know what he’s been through to get here. It’s natural there’s an adjustment time.” 

Law refused to turn around, knowing all he would see was Luffy’s face taking up the entire entrance of the doghouse. 

“He’s sad though,” Luffy insisted. “He’s been there all day. C’mere, Hat! The sun is good for you. Chopper said. He’s the best doctor in the world so you gotta listen to him!” 

“Fresh air and sunlight is a good medicine,” Robin agreed. “Even in this heat. But sometimes a little space is needed. Give him some room for today.”

It was a kindness and a warning. One day of lonely listlessness was all this irritating crew would allow. 

He woke up the next morning to the familiar sound of Sanji cursing. His locker would swing open if Usopp closed his own locker door too hard. A godawful AM hour but thanks to his doggish instincts he was immediately alert. Sanji held the door open for him and Onigiri and they followed him to the kitchen to receive their breakfast (possibly the finest cuisine any dog could ever hope for). After that, Sanji started brewing coffee, the scent of it filling the galley. Law missed coffee terribly but could do without the fallout of the embarrassing effects it would likely have on his current body. He sat enviously beside Robin who habitually enjoyed her own cup in the meditative quiet dawn.

Luffy was thrilled he was out and about and heaved Law up onto the kitchen island to chatter away at him while he ate. Sanji turned around and caught him, yelling about doggy paws on his counter “for the hundredth time, Luffy!” Luffy swallowed the rest of his breakfast and dragged Law outside. Inexplicably, Law was his favorite fluff ball even though Onigiri was right there, the epitome of cuteness. Law was offended for him. At least the rest of the crew had sense. They all adored Onigiri, who likewise loved everyone in return. He basked in the endless attention. Law would be running for his life from Luffy’s antics only to catch Onigiri sitting proudly at Jinbei’s feet while he steered or being slipped treats from Nami or playing games with Usopp and Franky. 

It was only right. Really. He was the greatest dog in the world and deserved to be showered in love. Plus, such an affectionate creature could hardly be expected to choose a favorite person—of which Law was not even a contender for, considering he wasn’t a person anymore. 

A routine fell into place, including the necessary Usopp human-training and the first battles against Sanji. It was exactly the one-week mark aboard when Zoro determined Law was worthy of being a pupil to the World’s Greatest Swordsman. That entire afternoon was dedicated to training. Every Straw Hat stopped by to observe as Law learned the balance of the knife and basic techniques. Brook stuck around with Luffy and Usopp as a dedicated viewership. Robin wandered past long enough to contribute a factoid of death statistics where the culprit was a weapon-wielding domestic pet and cheerfully departed as Usopp’s knees quaked. Onigiri scurried in, eager to try and join, but Nami scooped him up and left after charging them all for being too loud. When Sanji dropped off snacks and discovered his juicer, Law got some practical practice dueling irate humans. 

They stopped as the sky began to morph into fiery colors. It had been an invigorating but exhausting afternoon. Zoro supplied some gruff praise, a starting time for tomorrow, and a promise he’d get Franky to craft a dog-accessible knife sheath, ignoring Usopp’s squawks. Despite how different the experience was from his regular sword fighting style, it was the most normal Law had felt since this entire fiasco began. 

After slurping up an entire bowlful of water, he didn’t have the energy to protest when Luffy dragged him into his lap. Rubbery fingers carded through his fur and Law sank into it, letting the casual conversation around him fade to white noise. He was able to nap as a dog, one of the few advantages to the form. If he tried to nap as a human, he could expect his hard-earned sleep pattern to be screwed up for at least a week.

“Luffy.”

Nami’s voice cut through Law’s foggy thoughts. He cracked open an eye to see her coming down the stairs. 

“You gonna join us, Nami?” Luffy shuffled slightly so she could sit between him and Brook. Onigiri full-body hopped down the stairs and beelined over to greet Law.

Nami sat down, giving Law a little greeting scratch. He was tired enough to allow it. “We gotta figure out where we’re going next. We can’t keep sailing around in circles with the marine eyes on us now.”

“Did you hear anything?” Luffy asked. 

The chattering between Usopp and Brook quieted. 

“Not yet,” said Nami. 

“Then we wait.”

Onigiri, satisfied with Law’s response, began his quest to acquire pets. He stopped by Nami first even though he’d spent the whole afternoon basking under her umbrella. She massaged his cheeks, sending his tail into a happy wag. 

“We’re not giving up, Luffy. It’s just to shake off the marines for a bit, give us some breathing room.” Nami gave Onigiri a gentle pinch and he moved onto Brook. His spindly fingers gave the best pets, even more than Franky’s newly installed dog scratcher. “Our leads are dried up right now and we don’t know when they’ll surface again. You know how good the Hearts are at avoiding detection.” 

Law started. Luffy’s hand immediately jumped to his head in a soothing gesture. 

“Yeah, we lost them for almost two months that one time,” Usopp chimed in. “Remember? That’s when we got stuck on that theme park island.”

And people accused Law of being paranoid. These fuckers had been trailing him. For months! Months where Law had gaslit himself into believing it was one giant coincidence and ignored all of his crew’s silent exchanges whenever he redirected their route. 

Luffy began drooling. “Ahhh, their fried chicken was so good!” 

“The only way to travel was on that death trap of a roller coaster! That was not worth any good food!”  

“I had a great time,” said Brook. 

“Yeah, because you joined their band and got a VIP badge which included using their secret underground train!” 

Nami snapped her fingers. “Focus!”

“Well, Law certainly did always enjoy doing things the difficult way,” Brook remarked, giving Onigiri a little head ruffle as he drew away. 

That was certainly rich coming from a Straw Hat of all people. 

Luffy’s fingers found a now familiar path, tracing over the dark spotted fur on Law’s back. “We’ll wait,” he repeated. 

Nami watched as Onigiri placed his front paws on Zoro’s legs, requesting pets. “Okay,” she agreed. “We’ll wait a bit longer. If the marines catch up, it’ll be good for this one to let off some steam.” She jerked her thumb at Zoro who scowled. “Law can’t hide forever.”

“It’s possible he doesn’t know,” offered Brook. “He could be enjoying his time at a nice spa.”

If only. Had he stuck with his crew at the resort, his life would undoubtedly be much simpler right now. 

“How could he not know we’re looking for him?” said Usopp. “Months, remember? Man, things would’ve been easier if we’d replaced Bepo’s vivre card when we had a chance…” 

“Doesn’t matter,” said Zoro frankly. Onigiri was in his lap, wriggling with joy from the scritches under his chin. “He’s a stubborn bastard but we’ll find him.”

Find him for what? Luffy’s expression was placid but when he caught Law looking, his lips curled up. He brushed his fingers gently across Law’s cheek. 

It didn’t make any sense. So little sense, in fact, that despite the plain data written on his screens detailing their coinciding routes, he’d made himself believe it was just a stroke of incredible misfortune. Because why, after all this time, would Luffy care? 

No answers were offered. Sanji’s voice rang out, announcing dinner, resulting in a mad scramble and leaving a great many questions drifting in the humid air. 

Law’s first time with someone had been an almost clinical experience, done to get it over with. It was fine, he supposed, although he wasn’t about to wax poetry about it like Penguin and Shachi did. It had been with a man and he found he had no interest in trying it another way so the next time it was with a man again. 

It never meant anything and it never would. Law was not looking for love. His future only held the Grand Line and the fulfillment of a dead man’s dream. There was no room for anything else. The encounters only occurred when someone was brave enough to approach him which was rare. Law tended to not turn them down despite them being usually regrettable and more trouble than they were worth. He just said yes because there wasn’t much reason not to.

When he was twenty-two, making serious plans to finally leave the North Blue, he slept with a very good-looking man; a stranger whose name Law probably learned at one point. Nothing more than a one-off tryst who was rather awful in bed and would have been entirely unmemorable except the man burst into tears afterwards. It was hideously embarrassing for all involved and Law wished the waterworks had been saved for after he left. Instead, he stood awkwardly by as this random stranger started flooding the room. 

“Have you ever been in love?” wept the man, still naked under the sheets. 

Fuck, Law thought, already dressed, not wanting to get into philosophical discussions when he felt vaguely disgusting and in need of a long, hot shower and was wondering again why he’d gone through with this. Unfortunately, this particular individual had been ludicrously handsome and had very buff arms and held an intelligent conversation before they left together. Either way, he was here now so Law answered, “No.”

“I’m in love,” said the man. 

Law began edging towards the exit.

“She is a goddess, a star in the sky, a cool wind on a hot summer’s day—”

Why me? Law rolled his eyes up towards the leaky inn roof. This was the last time. He would remain celibate for the rest of his life. Sex was not good enough to suffer through this. 

“—and when she laughs, it is like a clear bell ringing across the lands, calling you home to a warm—”

“Is there a point to this?”

A loud sniff, huge tears rolling down ruddy cheeks. “She’s getting married.”

“Not to you,” Law presumed, now debating if their romp had been so unpleasant because this man was used to women, was on the verge of a breakdown the entire time, or was just generally terrible as sometimes happened with overly attractive people—rather than get better with experience, they seemed to think they never needed to improve. 

“I’m not enough,” moaned the man. “She didn’t choose me.” Then broke down into violent sobs. 

Law considered simply walking out the door. This man was remarkably hopeless. “That’s unfortunate,” he offered in the interim. 

“It hurts,” the man wept and it should have been childish but there was a wrenching tremor in his voice that signaled a true agony. It made Law hesitate. He had never been in love, had never lost love in that way, but had certainly experienced his own share of heartbreak. 

“Yeah,” he said, after a long moment. “Love hurts sometimes.” 

It was too late to leave now. Law waited as the worst of the breakdown subsided. “Sorry,” the man finally offered. “I’m not coping too well.”

Law couldn’t judge much. His coping methods so far had been to join a vicious pirate crew in revenge and then become a pirate himself in revenge. An unhealthy response, some might say. 

“You learn to live with it,” he said. 

The man eyed him curiously. Law looked away, regretting the bitterness that had seeped through. 

“I tried not to love her,” said the man. “I knew it wouldn’t be me. But I can’t help it. I don’t want her to leave.”

It was the worst sort of moment to think about his sister but Law did. All those years ago in her bedroom, weeping over a bird. 

“How do I let go? How do I let go of this love?”

He thought of his mother’s words, as he had sometimes over the years, in those darkest moments when he hoped his parents could not see his actions and if they did, wondered whether they would still love him. Inescapable, his mother had said, and Law never knew what she meant. 

Did she mean someone else’s love, like Lami giving a piece of her heart to a bird, to carry over ocean waves? A love that is given even if the person never knows or forgets. Was she speaking of her own love, a mother’s love, a promise that no matter what he did or who he became, it would reach him even from another plane? An endless, forever love. Or did she mean love itself? That a person would love and keep loving even though they might wish, as Law did, to seal their heart away from any heartbreak? 

“I’m not sure you can,” Law said slowly, all those questions churning around in his brain. “Some love you can’t let go.”

Law didn’t remember how the encounter concluded beyond that. He walked back to the Polar Tang thinking of Cora and all his bewildering actions towards a boy who wanted to burn down the world. Then, during a long, hot shower, of Bepo and Penguin and Shachi who had bullied their way into Law’s life even when he thought he had to do it all alone. And that night, as he worked on his plan of attack with the Grand Line looming in the horizon, he wondered who he was without love? 

Someone too close to Doflamingo, he feared.

He didn’t sleep that night, distracted by too many unwanted thoughts and a growing resentment for that hopeless, nameless man who should have disappeared into the night as no one and instead left a conversation niggling away at Law’s mind. Entirely rude of him. Law gave up on trysts following that. 

The problem with being a dog, aside from the problem of being one, was information gathering was extremely limited. For all the crew’s flaws (of which there were many), long discussions and endless heart-to-hearts were not one of them. Law was left in the dark as to why they were sailing around in circles in search of him of all people. 

So Law had to do what had become the theme of his entire time as a canine: wait. 

At least life was never boring on the Thousand Sunny. His training with Zoro became a daily occurrence, a beacon of absurd normalcy. Whenever he was free of Luffy’s clutches, Law focused on his warfare with Sanji, which utilized a turn-based strategy and grew increasingly unhinged on both sides—Law still didn’t know where Sanji conjured up dog-sized clothes. 

Luffy nearly threw up from how hard he laughed after that particular incident. “You look so silly,” he gasped, after sniffing Law out of his hiding place like he was the one with the superior nose. He gently pulled Law’s legs out of the last stubborn remnants of fabric. Law was already brimming with bitter vengeance. He nipped at Luffy’s hands when he wouldn’t shut up. “Shishishi, sorry Hat. Wanna help me break in tonight?” 

They pulled off their heist perfectly. Not a single alarm raised and Brook pretended not to see them from the crow’s nest as they lay on deck munching away under the stars.  

“That was fun,” Luffy whispered, dragging Law into his side and Law forgot himself, burrowed right in, aching with how much he’d missed him.

That had always been his problem. There was never any in-between. Only days with them, with him, and already all the careful walls he’d built and feebly constructed lies he’d told himself were crumbling apart. Despite himself, despite everything, despite his upset and how little he wished to be here, Law fell back into his orbit so easily. He wasn’t surprised. That was a big reason he’d stayed away. 

—

“Luffy! Stop moving! You’re gonna give us away!” 

“I’m not doing anything,” Luffy complained, fidgeting relentlessly. 

Law couldn’t see Chopper from his vantage point but he had a perfect view of Luffy’s bored face in the rafters.

“This was your idea,” scolded Chopper. “You—”

A door opened down the hall. 

“—shhhhh!” Chopper’s shush was very unsubtle but luckily added more to the atmosphere rather than detracted. 

“Er, hello?” called Usopp, still out of sight. The sound of the door clicking shut behind him was audible. 

Silence in return. 

“Just the wind,” Usopp declared confidently. Law watched as Luffy purposefully shifted some of the rigging, resulting in a long and ominous creeeeeaaaaak. Usopp’s footsteps halted. “H-hello? Brook?”

“Pshfush fush kshuff fushphs,” Chopper began murmuring, unintelligible and sinister.

“Who’s there?! I am the Great Captain Usopp, Brave Warrior of the Sea! You are not welcome here!” 

Luffy created another menacing sound. Usopp cautiously edged his way closer as Chopper’s muttering increased. 

“I-I alone have slain one million demons, with one hand tied behind my back! Y-you have no power here, spirit! T-this is the Pirate King’s grand ship! I—” Usopp poked his head around the corner. His eyes blew wide and his voice died. Chopper’s chanting cut off. Luffy stopped the creaks. 

Law, silhouetted in the doorway, glared at Usopp.

“H-Hat.” Usopp stood tall. His knees knocked together. “Fancy meeting you down here. Uh, listen, Robin, you know Robin, you like her, right? She forgot something down and asked me to get it. It’s for Robin! You’ll let me past for her?”

Law didn’t move, tracking Usopp’s every move. 

“Niiiice doggy,” Usopp soothed. “Goooood doggy. We’re friends, right? No need to—”

“Pfft!” 

Another moment of silence. Usopp finally seemed to remember he was an excellent Observation haki user and looked up at the rafters. “LUFFY!” he yelled.

“Awww, Luffy,” Chopper rolled out of his hiding place. “We didn’t even get to the good part.”

Luffy broke into full-blown laughter. “S-sorry, Usopp just looked so f-funny!” He was laughing so hard it was difficult for him to get the words out. Chopper tried to look angry but was biting his own laughter back, expression constipated before he too broke and joined in.

Usopp crossed his arms, bearing the conjoined laughter with grace. “When that demon dog actually comes for my soul, you’ll all regret this!” 

Luffy landed on the ground, giving Law some pets. “Hat won’t eat your soul. He likes meat and stuff.” 

“Are you saying my soul doesn’t taste good?!”

“I don’t think souls are good for dog diets,” said Chopper, genuinely concerned. 

“My soul would fit into any diet! It is the greatest, most delicious soul to ever exist!” 

A mouth sprouted on the wall. “Crew meeting,” Robin called. “We’re stopping for a resupply shortly. Oh and Usopp, thank you for looking, but it turns out my notebook was in my desk all along!”

The muggy heat was even more horrible out in the open air. Law flopped down in the shade as the crew gathered on deck. He wasn’t sure what kind of dog he was but he certainly felt like a winter dog trapped in an endless summer. After this debacle finally concluded, he was sailing to the coldest winter island he could find. Bepo would be thrilled. 

A hollow ache throbbed in his chest. He wondered where Bepo was right now. Was he okay? How was everyone else? They were worried, certainly, but how was the mood on board? Law had gone missing in the middle of bumfuck nowhere so perhaps they weren’t assuming the worst and life was continuing as normal while they searched. Maybe Clione finally figured out it was Hakugan stealing his jerky and not Shachi. There was a bet going on with a rather hefty payout for when he would. Law never participated in those sorts of things as a rule, keeping up the propriety as captain, but because of his unbiased stance he was rewarded—for better or worse—with all the juicy gossip from all sides of his crew’s current drama. 

…when would he see them again? 

Onigiri scurried over from where he’d been play-wrestling with Franky, bellyflopping in the shade next to him. He was panting heavily but gave Law a look so cute it should be outlawed. It scattered his cloud of worry into wisps. 

Nami was relaying instructions. “Remember there are marines in the area. This is only a brief stopover.” She reached out and pulled Luffy’s cheek. “What does that mean?” 

“Aghh, Namiiii.” 

Nami pulled his skin out further. 

“Don’t cause a scene,” Luffy pouted. 

Nami reached out her other hand for Zoro’s cheek. “And what else does that mean?”

“What do I have to do with this?!” 

“I’ll go with Zoro-bro,” said Franky. “Nothing to restock on my end.”

“I don’t need a babysitter!” 

Several Straw Hats sent Zoro pitying looks. 

“We’ll go to a bar,” Franky reassured. Nami released their cheeks. Luffy’s snapped back loudly while Zoro rubbed his, scowling furiously. 

“What about the dogs?” asked Chopper. 

“I’ll take them,” Sanji offered gallantly. 

No fucking way. Law sat up in alarm, already picturing how Sanji would utilize two adorable creatures in the markets. He slunk over to Robin, trying to look cute enough to bring along. He wasn’t above wielding his looks if needed. She smiled at him and bent to give some light pets, misinterpreting his plea. 

“Well I’m taking Onigiri for the day,” said Nami. She nodded at Law. “That one has too much of an attitude for what I’ve got planned. He’s all yours, Sanji.” 

“Aww, I wanna take them,” said Luffy. 

“You’ll lose them, Luffy!”

Luffy stuck his lower lip out. Law took a brief moment of self-reflection over this childish man being not only the Pirate King, but also the man who haunted his dreams. Law really was the most hopeless case of all. 

But he didn’t have time to dwell. Sanji turned towards him with a glint in his visible eye. Law looked desperately at Robin but she’d already straightened up for a pleasant chat with Jinbei and Chopper, going over their own plans. Maybe Zoro? No, he was already huffing away from the circle with Franky. 

Shit. Law took off, determined to wedge himself into the tiniest hidey-hole he knew of. But this form was no match for one of the deadliest fighters in the Pirate King’s crew. Sanji’s hands closed around his sides and he was yanked into the air. 

“Nice try, marshmallow,” said Sanji, holding his struggling body tightly. “You’re coming with me.”

—

“Ohhhh, what a cutie! Can I pet him?”

“Of course, my lady,” swooned Sanji. “He’s quite friendly.”

The beautiful fruit seller bent low, taking Sanji’s word for it despite the ferocious glare being directed from dog to man. Law tolerated the nice ear scritches while drilling a hole into the side of Sanji’s head—who rudely didn’t even notice, too busy emoting heart eyes at the woman. 

“He’s so adorable! Let me get him a little treat!” 

“Oh no, such a beautiful woman as yourself needn’t—”

The harness around Law pulled as Sanji followed the fruit seller around the backside of her stall, blabbering on. Franky had crafted it for ultimate comfort but now Law needed to take a swim in the ocean. He’d honestly thought the marines walking him with a leash had been the lowest he could go, but having Sanji at the other end… 

The fruit seller gave him a slice of apple. Law ate it, resentful over how delicious it was. He purposefully lagged behind as Sanji moved on, making his displeasure known by being as irritating as he could. The dark look on his face did nothing to stop the attention.

“Such a sweetheart!” exclaimed a particularly vivacious young woman. Sanji tripped over his own feet when he spotted her, possibly because of her most generous bosom. “May I?”

At Sanji’s assent, she scooped Law up, suffocating him against her chest. If he was attracted to women at all, this might’ve been a to-die for experience. Instead he struggled for air while plotting his revenge. Sanji had upped their conflict to a whole new level. Though it was a good thing Sanji wasn’t the one turned into an adorable creature. He might’ve died from overexposure to feminine attention.

Vast though his annoyance was, he still begrudgingly appreciated when Sanji stopped in the shade and made sure Law was watered, giving him the rest of the apple slices while he took a leisurely smoke break. “Not too hot?” he asked, giving Law’s back a little rub. The bastard. Law wished, not for the first time, all the Straw Hats were terrible people so he could just hate them and be done with it. 

Franky wandered past in search of Zoro who he’d lost around a corner. He chatted briefly with Sanji and gave Law some pets before moving on. Sanji muttered something about the deficiency of brain cells contained in moss. He held a bag up against Law, clearly sizing him up as a potential pack-mule before rightfully concluding Law would bring the bag great harm. They continued as they were. 

As Sanji briskly flew through a transaction at a delicious-smelling butcher’s shop, Law examined the leash and harness. They were possibly the most finely constructed canine accessories in the world. Damn this crew and their habit of high competence purely to spite Law.

A loud cacophony of noise started up out of sight. Law perked up, for once hoping for some familiar chaos to free him from this hell.

“Don’t tell me,” Sanji grumbled, rounding the corner just in time to witness Luffy being a complete nuisance. The illustrious Pirate King was being chased out of a restaurant when he spotted them and waved vigorously. 

“Oiiii! Saaanjiii! Haaat!” 

A heavy object went zooming past his head and he laughed, darting away from the screeching restaurant staff. 

Sanji rolled his eyes and walked right past the scene like he had no clue who the rubbery menace was. They made it down a block in relative peace before Luffy circled back to them. 

“Hi Hat!” he called enthusiastically, swooping down to crush Law against his bare chest. Law wriggled around for breath but admittedly, this was a much more positive experience than before. 

“What about me, shitty rubber?”

“Shishishi, hi Sanji! Didja see the fish restaurant at the docks? Its sign was just like your eyebrows!” 

“What the hell are you talking about?” 

Luffy whirled his free arm around in a spiral. “Their fish cakes were great!”

Law stilled. Sanji began spluttering but he didn’t pay any attention. Something about that imagery nagged at him. It took him a moment to figure out why. Before reaching the resort, the Hearts had briefly stopped at one of the archipelago islands Law would later return to on his ill-fated journey. There had been a fish restaurant near where they anchored and Law had the same exact thought when he saw it. The Straw Hats were stubbornly at the forefront of his mind those days as it felt like they were closing in. Which they had been, he now knew. 

He scanned the street as best he could with Luffy jostling him, busy laughing at Sanji’s irritation. It was only a pitstop so they’d barely left the docks. But if it was that island, that meant he wasn’t too far away from the backwater swamp at all. The interconnecting ferries meant if he got on the right one, he could be yipping furiously at the devil fruit user by tomorrow. 

His mind whirled. The Straw Hats were keeping him safe but singularly useless in solving his problem seeing as they were completely unaware one existed. Moreover, there was a very good chance this was the closest he’d be to that cursed island ever again. He had to take advantage of that fact in some way. But how? Slip his leash and make a run for it? Convince someone to follow him to a ferry?

“Oh you have such an adorable dog!” called a passing trio of women. 

Sanji twirled over to them in delight, tugging Luffy along to show off Law. 

“Can I hold him?” one of them asked, giving Law some light pets. 

“Of cour—”

Luffy pulled Law away, frowning deeply. “No.”

“Luffy!” Sanji hissed. 

“He’s my dog!” 

Law never thought he’d be so grateful for Luffy’s possessive streak. And with Sanji distracted by his apologies, it was a perfect opportunity. Luffy was always ready to go off and do something stupid. Following a dog aboard a ferry for no reason was right up his alley. Law began squirming.

“Woah, watcha doing?” Luffy let him down, leash loosely tangled around his wrist. He’d received a lecture about how the leashes were for the dogs own good and to not let them off lest they get lost. Law didn’t think it would take much convincing to change his mind but he didn’t need to. Instead he pulled, signaling Luffy to follow him, which he did immediately, the idiot. “Where’re we going?” he asked cheerfully.

“Oi, Luffy! What’re you doing? Don’t let him run away!” Sanji grabbed Luffy’s arm, halting him. “This furball will probably take off the first chance he gets.”

“He wants to do something,” said Luffy, expert dog-mindreader.

“This is a short stop, Luffy. You can’t go getting into trouble.”

God damn this cook. Law pulled harder at the lead. 

“I’m going to feed you gruel tonight if you make Nami mad!” 

All bets were off. Law cursed silently, now moving onto Plan B, which was somehow slipping his expertly constructed harness or pulling the leash out of Luffy’s grip with no one noticing. A difficult task when up against the Pirate King and his crew, who were never more reliably obstinate than when Law had a plan. 

But, in the end, he never got the chance. 

“Luffy!” 

Luffy ceased his whining to wave at Usopp, rapidly walking towards them. “Usopp! C’mere, we have—”

“Luffy, you have to come! Now!” 

Luffy faltered. There was an edge in Usopp’s voice.

“What is it?” called Sanji, frowning. 

Usopp drew up to them. His expression was serious and both Luffy and Sanji tensed as Usopp said, in a tone promising nothing good, “It’s the Hearts. They’re here.”

Law asked his mother once what it had been like, to look across the room and know this perfect stranger was the one. 

“Terrifying,” she admitted, holding him close. They lay together on a spare cot that had been moved into Lami’s hospital room, facing the bed where she slept. The entire hospital was overrun, rules and propriety thrown out the door as Flevance’s condition deteriorated. “I’d never thought of anyone like that before. I used to wonder if I ever would, even though I was young. Only eighteen. But there he was, across the room… the most handsome boy I’d ever seen. It was like being gut punched. All the breath knocked out of me.”

“But how?” asked Law. “You didn’t know anything about him.”

His mother was quiet a moment, expression thoughtful. “It’s a bit hard to explain. Everything, I guess. The way he held himself, his kind face, his presence. The warmth in his eyes. I had to know him. And when I went up to him, there was an instant connection. We fell into each other’s orbit. Tidal locked.”

From outside the door, down the hall, a grief-stricken wail started up. A familiar background noise these days. His mother’s arm tightened around him. “I hope you find that one day,” she whispered into his hair. “Someone who steals the breath from your lungs.”

“Who wants that?” grumbled Law, nestling into her even though he was supposed to be too old for that at ten years old. “Maybe I won’t feel that way for anyone.”

“I think for the right one, you will.” His mother, pretending he had any chance of a future when usually she was the realist to counter his father’s optimism. “There’s someone out there for you, Law. You’ll know it when they come.”

Looking back, Law couldn’t say for certain if it was immediate, as it had been for his mother. It was possible that it was born all at once, much later on, alongside the realization which was like a bomb going off in his chest as the thunderous crack of opposing monstrous hakis warred above his head. But perhaps it really was present from that first glimpse of a name and a smile so wide that it tugged at something in Law’s heart even through a wanted poster; born so small that as the pressure swelled within, Law didn’t notice it balloon, rearranging his guts with its force, until eventually there was nowhere left for it to go except an explosion of cataclysmic design. 

Either way, there was not much time to linger in the revelation that in other circumstances would have stunned him with its force. It was pushed aside as Law, inconceivably alive, returned to the fight. It was not until the aftermath—after the birdcage had lifted, when the celebratory cries began to ring across the city, the phantom strings binding him now fallen away, sitting beside the person who had just gifted him a liberation he never dreamed of—it wasn’t until then that he acknowledged the resounding truth. He reached out a hand to rest it over a wild, beating heart, confined within a scarred chest, and didn’t so much think as feel Oh, you’re the one. His stomach swooped as he stumbled into a terrifying free-fall. 

Somehow the world kept turning. Somehow the sun kept shining. Somehow Law was breathing and Cora’s dream was fulfilled and his heart was beating in a way it never had before. A new reality settled into his skin, like it was always meant to belong. 

He understood then, how his mother must have felt: this terrifying knowledge that, whether the other person returned it or not, this was a part of him forevermore. 

Law fought Sanji the entire way back to Sunny. 

“Calm down, you oversized cotton ball,” Sanji snapped. Law snarled, attempting to twist right out of the ironclad grip. His crew was here, on this very island, and this fucking cook was preventing him from getting to them. Short of biting Sanji’s hands, he tried everything he could to escape. 

“All good?” called Brook as Sanji boarded. 

Sanji replied with an explanation, interrupted by expletives as Law nearly thrashed right out of his grasp. “I’ll be catching up with them after dealing with this little bastard.” Law was taken to the men’s quarters where Sanji practically threw him in. “Stay!” he ordered, blocking Law as he attempted to dart out. “You better not claw anything, shitty marshmallow.” He pushed Law back with his foot and kicked the door shut right in his face. 

Law was stunned silent in a moment of pure disbelief. Then the rage poured in. He howled, utterly incensed. The first chance he’d had at returning to his crew and it was being snatched away by a punchable cook and a block of solid wood. He scratched at the door and threw his body against it, hearing Sanji mutter something disparaging under his breath as he walked away. 

“Aroooo!” Law yowled, his colorful curses not translating well. He had to see his crew! Surely Bepo wielded some weird mink sense and would be able to tell it was him. 

But Sanji simply left. The Thousand Sunny fell silent. Law was trapped, again. 

His chest heaved with furious breaths as he stared up at the door handle he had easily opened so many times before, with no clue it would one day be the very thing keeping him from his crew. An overwhelming sense of powerlessness nearly crushed him with its force. 

Fuck that fucking cook. Law whirled around. Usopp had been the last one getting ready that morning, meaning Sanji’s locker had swung open. Well. Law was going to fucking show him. 

—

It felt like hours later when the door finally creaked open. After his ballistic tantrum died down, the ticking clock nearly drove Law insane. As literally clawing at the walls had proven ineffectual, he retreated to the doghouse where he remained, filled with numb despair, when someone walked in. The footsteps paused by the mess he’d made. Sanji should consider himself lucky that Law, quelled by the infuriating logic it was hardly the man’s fault, stopped after only one suit. 

A shadow fell over the doghouse entrance. “Bad day?” asked Robin as she knelt down to peer inside. Her voice was gentle but her expression pinched. She beckoned him. “Come here, Hat. We have a crew meeting.” 

Law crept forward and allowed her to carry him out. Night had fallen. They were docked still and his heart jumped. He considered leaping out of her arms and attempting to make it to land. But not only was the gangplank pulled up, his crew was nowhere to be seen. He’d be wandering lost yet again. 

Robin entered the galley. It was quiet inside, the atmosphere tense. All the Straw Hats were gathered around the table with Onigiri beneath, wandering anxiously from person to person. Luffy sat in his usual spot, back turned to the door. 

Nami glanced over as the door swung loudly shut, breaking the hold of silence. “It doesn’t make any sense. Why…” She trailed off, fingers drumming against the table. 

“I do not believe it’s a matter of why,” said Robin. “Law would not do that to his crew.”

Law tensed. Robin looked down at him with a melancholy twist to her lips. She walked to the table and gently deposited him in Luffy’s lap before taking a seat. An achingly familiar smell filled Law’s nostrils. He buried his nose in Luffy’s shirt. Bepo. A bitter homesickness swept through him. 

“So something must have happened,” Brook was reasonably saying. “Only…”

What? lingered in the room. 

“Not just anything could take down a man like Trafalgar,” mused Jinbei. 

“Yeah,” said Chopper. “It’s Law. What would…? Who would…?”

There was silence. 

“Bepo looked really worried,” Nami murmured. “The whole crew did. Robin’s right. Law wouldn’t do that. So something must have happened.”

Law’s heart twisted. He poked his head over the table, surveying all the solemn expressions. He’d known his crew would be concerned but hearing it was another beast. They were so close now, somewhere on this very island, yet still impossibly out of reach. He thought about trying to make another racket, hoping to clue them in that something was wrong, but he feared they would just kick him out of the meeting and leave him in the dark to what was going on. So he remained silent. 

Rubbery fingers brushed against his fur, tracing the familiar pattern over his spots. Law looked back. There was an unreadable expression on Luffy’s shadowed face as his eyes tracked the path his fingers took. 

Sanji took an audible drag of his cigarette. “Law’s a pain in the ass on a good day and he’s one of the stubbornest fuckers in the sea. Probably won’t be long until we hear about the complete shitstorm he’s causing.”

That was a compliment coming from him. It made Law feel a little guilty about the suit. 

“Hell yeah,” Franky agreed. “He’s probably giving some sorry sons of bitches a mad migraine right now.”

“But that means someone’s keeping him from returning to his crew,” Brook observed.

Luffy’s eyes darkened. 

“R-right,” stuttered Usopp. “Someone out there who could take down Law…” He laughed nervously, nudging Zoro in an attempt of brave camaraderie but Zoro’s gaze was steadily trained on Luffy. 

“We’ll look, Luffy,” said Nami. She paused, then added firmly, “We’ll find him. No one can just disappear without a trace. Between us and the Hearts… we will find him.”

“Oh, yeah, definitely. Temporary takedown, is what I meant,” said Usopp. 

Robin leaned against a hand. “Plenty of distance can be covered in five weeks. And that is only when he missed the meet-up. We don’t know exactly when he… vanished.”

“Maybe he just lost track of time,” suggested Franky. “What’s he into again? Is there like a comic book island around here or something?”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Law felt extremely peeved. God this crew was so fucking annoying. They had to embarrass Law any chance they had even when they were worried about his wellbeing. 

“Or maybe he wasn’t taken anywhere and is right under our noses,” said Sanji, thinking aloud, then winced. That probably insinuated something more morbid than they currently intended to be even though it was depressingly accurate. 

“So he was taken?” asked Chopper, voice sounding small. 

“No need to jump to conclusions now,” Robin reassured. 

“But it’s been over a month,” said Usopp, then yelped as Nami clearly kicked him. 

Luffy’s fingers flexed on Law’s back. “We will find him.” His voice cut through the room, booking no room for argument. “Torao’s okay. He’s strong. He probably just got lost.”

A pause, as silent exchanges flew about the room. 

“That may be it,” agreed Jinbei. “I’m sure we’ll find him suitably embarrassed by the trouble he’s caused.”

“Is this a universal swordsman issue?” asked Usopp. “Brook, don’t you start getting lost too.”

“Nonsense,” said Brook. “I can find my way perfectly easily. Not that I have eyes with which to do so!”

“Oi, what’re you implying?” Zoro snapped. 

“That you’re a directionally-challenged idiot, dumbass,” said Sanji. 

Zoro sat forward in his seat but before he could respond with his own insults, Luffy stood up abruptly. The crew fell silent but he merely set Law on the ground and walked out the galley. Law hesitated for a split second, knowing there would be more information available in the kitchen, but as the door started to swing shut, he moved instinctively, slipping out right in time. 

The atmosphere had shifted outside and the taste of impending rain sat in the air. Law took the rather arduous journey down and up the stairs from the galley to Sunny’s figurehead where Luffy now sat. The ship was docked but he faced the open sea. Law could actually smell his darkened mood as he heaved his tiny body up the stairs. Luffy glanced back and with stretched arms, carefully picked him up and settled him in his lap. Law looked up into large brown eyes as Luffy carded his fingers through his fur, circling the spots again and again. 

The only visible light was from flickering lanterns. Clouds hid the stars in the sky. 

“Torao’s really strong.” Luffy’s brow furrowed at his own words. In the near distance, thunder rolled. Law nudged his nose against Luffy’s hand, trying to offer comfort. Luffy’s mouth tightened and he leaned down, burying his face in Law’s fur as he murmured, “Ace was strong too. And I’ve almost lost Torao before.”

His body blocked Law from the stormy breeze. Wishing there was a way he could tell Luffy he was okay, Law pressed into his warmth. A distant, endlessly proud part of himself wanted to be annoyed that Luffy was focusing on his collection of failures. But Law was human—well, mostly—and well aware of how innately fragile life was, even for apparent monsters. There were times Luffy seemed inhuman in his strength, the strongest man in the seas, but Law knew intimately the feel of that liberating heart as it ceased to beat. 

When the rain began to fall, a precursor to the violent thunderstorm that would rage for the next two days, Luffy carefully cradled Law in his arms and went inside. Law didn’t protest when Luffy carried him to bed, only curled up against his chest, snug in his arms and listening to his heartbeat as they fell asleep with cracks of lightning filling the night sky. 

The truth was Law had known from the beginning not to say anything. Luffy wasn’t like that. Or if he was, if there could be a somebody someday, that somebody would not be Law. Law was… well, a friend, as Luffy declared over and over again in an intended harmless gesture of goodwill that somewhere along the way began to stab Law in the gut.

There were many people who flit in and out of Luffy’s life, stuck on the periphery of his crew, and the number of exceptions for non-crew who actually mattered was small. Law was not one of them. He was a friend, a rival, an ally, someone who was useful in his time and whose time had run its course. A friendly face to see in passing was his fate. 

That quiet ache in his chest was something he could live with. A secret that he had no intention of revealing because somehow he sensed that the knowing was something he could not bear. But of course Luffy never let Law see any of his plans through to the end. 

There had been a festival. The Hearts arrived first, taking a relaxing break from their leisurely journey towards the island where the massive one-year Laugh Tale anniversary jamboree was being held. So it was only a small coincidence the Straw Hats happened to dock there as well, having been headed in the same direction and unable to ignore the whispered rumors of a party. Luffy had been thrilled to see them. More friends meant more fun. 

And it was fun. The Straw Hats and Hearts mixed and dispersed into the lively crowds. In the middle of attempting to follow Robin on a calm stroll through the stalls, Law was abducted by Zoro and spent the first half of the night with him; which meant when Luffy eventually found them, he was rather drunk, leaning into Zoro with a bit too much familiarity but Zoro was a friend and didn’t care. Luffy was stone-cold sober and delighted. He’d plopped his arms in a crisscross on Zoro’s head as he laughed at Law’s state.

As the night wore on, he said, “You’re so fun like this, Torao,” and got a mischievous look in his eyes. “Come with me.” Without waiting for a response, he heaved Law up, and then suddenly it was just the two of them wandering down the streets together. Luffy took advantage of his loosened state, getting him to join in while Luffy sampled every food for a second time, challenged him to each rigged festival game, stopped to watch a puppet show about a local ghost legend that Luffy decided they should go investigate. They snuck away from the bright and bustling streets to go up to a cliff where some age-old incorporeal fool supposedly haunted the rocks, and then…

…and then. 

The stars twinkled like fireflies in the night sky. Law remembered that distinctly, how many there were, how the haze from the festival cast a sheen of ethereal gold over the little sparking lights high above. By that time, he could scarcely be classified as drunk anymore unless one counted being high on an overabundance of street food and an addictive laugh. So maybe there was something that caused all loss of control of his mental faculties as he stared up at the glittering heavens and felt some inexplicable urge to open his mouth. He was with Luffy, was the thing, Luffy who always told him he was too far in his head, who always dared him to let go, so for once he didn’t think, didn’t hesitate, just let the words slip right on out. 

It was a mistake. As soon as they were let loose on the world, Law wished he could take them back. He wasn’t even looking at Luffy when he said them, eyes still upturned to the sparkling night, and he was terrified of hurtling back down to Earth like a meteor ready to splinter into a million shards. 

But down he went anyway because he couldn’t live in the stars forever. He turned to his side to see Luffy with a puzzled look on his face. 

Sorry, Law wanted to say. Bad joke. Then maybe take advantage of the confusion to inflict a bout of single-use short-term memory loss on Luffy’s brain.

Instead, Law quietly said, “I just wanted you to know,” even though that was a lie because he had never wanted Luffy to know anymore than he wanted to make himself known like that. 

“I don’t—” Luffy started, looking a little lost, a little befuddled, off-kilter in a way Law had never seen him before. 

“I know,” said Law. 

“You’re my friend,” Luffy said, emphasized in a way where maybe he was trying to tell Law that everything was okay, that nothing would change between them—but it was too late for that. Law already knew, with perfect clarity, that he could not be around Luffy anymore, not with this newfound shattering pain. 

It wasn’t Luffy’s fault. It was always Law’s, for yet again letting his heart slip out of his palm to land in a field of thorns. 

They went back to the festival with a strange awkwardness between them. As soon as their crews came into view, Luffy beelined over to them, squishing himself between Zoro and Jinbei like the rubber contortionist he was, reaching out to drag a performatively protesting Chopper into his lap. Safely at home with the people in his heart. 

Law lingered on the edge, watching him, memorizing him, aware that this was the end. He’d fucked up like only Trafalgar Law could. Yet despite the gnashing heartache tearing at his chest, despite the burn of embarrassment crawling under his skin, screaming at him to run away, he felt almost… free, in a way, in a well that’s that type of way. 

“Captain?” called Bepo and Law went to him, settled amongst his own crew as they bled through the boundary of the Straw Hats. When fireworks exploded in the night sky, he watched the colors dance over Luffy’s upturned, smiling face, and silently said goodbye. 

After the initial doom and gloom of the news, an air of forcible optimism was born, at least among everyone who wasn’t Law. Perhaps because of Luffy, who adopted a chipper attitude that probably infected everyone else. He engaged in his usual routine of getting into trouble, eating ridiculous proportions, and bothering Law all day. Hounding Nami about new leads wasn’t even an added step since they’d already been looking for him. 

“Torao’s okay,” Luffy told Law each night as they curled against each other to sleep, with a quiet confidence like saying so willed it into existence. Law wouldn’t put it past him. He tried to appreciate it but even with the coordinated search effort set up between the crews, optimism was not exactly in Law’s repertoire. 

Right away, he ingratiated himself to Nami so he could slip into the communications room during her daily call with Bepo and listen to the sound of his voice. He tried barking loudly the first time, with a forlorn hope there would be some ancient mink comprehension, but Bepo only asked when they got a dog. That’s when Law gleaned some most unwelcome news as well: the Hearts had already combed the cluster of islands, including the backwater hellhole. They were sending their feelers elsewhere now, farther and farther away from where the true solution lay. The Straw Hats followed suit. 

“Why did he leave?” Nami asked Bepo one day. Law lay at her feet, listening close.

“Oh, Captain does that sometimes,” Bepo replied. “He does it when he’s, well… he just does it sometimes. Sorry. But he always comes back.”

“I meant—” Nami started then cut herself off. She sighed. “I’m charging him a fortune for all this trouble he’s causing. We’ll go drinking together after this, only you and I, on his beri.” Nami smiled softly at the snail. “It’s nice talking to you again. Let’s do it in better circumstances. 

“Okay,” chuckled Bepo shakily. “I’d like that.”

Sanji made onigiri for afternoon snacks. Brook played an old North Blue song that Uni had taught him from his home island, the one the Hearts always broke out when they were extra drunk. Usopp frequently reminded Luffy that Law was just lost like Zoro got, which meant they’d find him in the last place they looked. Even with the obvious worry, spirits were relatively high.

Then the first week passed. Then another. Then a third. Two whole months since Law disappeared with no word. 

“There would be news, right?” he overheard Sanji discussing with Jinbei and Franky one day. “Someone would collect his bounty.”

“Those processes can take time,” said Jinbei. “But yes… there would be a headline as his status updated.”

“Or someone felt they couldn’t approach the Government themselves,” said Franky. “And we’ll, ya know… never know.”

“An accident is a possibility,” Jinbei said. “But with how valuable his fruit is, it could be someone either has him themselves or did turn him over and, regardless of his… state, they’re keeping it quiet as they…”

They fell silent. Then started discussing Franky’s new modifications to the mini submarine. 

The mood on Sunny turned somber. With few leads and all the rumors turning up nothing, the crews were chasing ghosts. They turned to contacts, including—Law’s pretty sure—the Revolutionaries. After each failed island, the ship would embark again with Luffy sitting on her figurehead, new tension in his shoulders. The growing pessimism started showing on his crewmates’ faces. Law wasn’t sure where they were searching and had no way to direct their attention to the correct place. The debilitating helplessness and rising guilt was tortuous and he was not the only one feeling that way. 

“I should’ve gone with him,” said Bepo at the end of a call. Luffy was listening in that day, as was Robin, and Penguin on the other line. “I shouldn’t have let him go alone.”

“It’s not your fault, Bear,” insisted Luffy, just as Penguin said the same. “If someone did this, it’s their fault. And I’ll make sure they pay.”

“What else could it be?” asked Penguin hopelessly. 

No one had any reply. 

With each passing night, Luffy’s whispered, “Torao’s okay,” grew more and more uncertain. Law always pressed close, tried to say that he was, and Luffy never understood. 

—

It was Zoro who sloshed his way through blood and guts over to Luffy. “Let’s spar,” he said bluntly. 

Law, hidden beneath the stairs with Onigiri, could see Luffy vibrating from pent-up energy. An unlucky errant sea king had, only a minute ago, been rewarded with a single punch that literally blew it up. Nami’s loud complaining was drowned out by Franky as he started up some contraption to swab the deck. Sanji was picking through the meat in search of something salvageable for dinner. 

“I’m fine,” said Luffy sharply. His fists were white-knuckled. 

Zoro drew his swords. 

They went all out. The force of their clashes reverberated through Law’s body. Onigiri burrowed into him, shaking. Nami fetched them from under the stairs with a telling lack of yelling at her crewmates. She took them to the baths where he endured a forceful scrubbing. He and Onigiri had been at ground zero when the sea king rose out of the sea, unsuspecting of its impending swift and brutal end. 

Onigiri liked the water so after he’d been thoroughly bathed, Nami let him paddle around. She wrapped Law up in a fluffy towel—which admittedly felt amazing—and gave his ears little scritches as she leaned against the bath. 

Law listened to the continued sounds of the spar. Onigiri swam up to the side to make sure Law was still there before doing another lap. It took Law a second to recognize Nami also seemed to be tracing dots, presumably right beneath his ear. He struggled to get his exceedingly short neck out from the towel so he could peek around at her. She was frowning contemplatively down at him. 

“Woof?” asked Law hopefully, willing the knowledge of his identity into her brain. 

“Where are you?” she murmured. “You can’t do this to—”

A boom echoed outside and the physical force of it swept through the room. Onigiri yelped and Nami leaned over to fish him out, wrapping him in his own fuzzy towel. 

Law stayed with them in the library as the fight dragged on, keeping Onigiri company beneath Nami’s desk while she plotted. The ship eventually fell silent. In the new calm, Onigiri dozed off. Robin entered and graciously held the door open so Law could slip out in search of Luffy, only to be blocked yet again by another closed door. He was forced to wait outside the baths, swearing he would forevermore appreciate the simple act of turning a handle.

Zoro exited first but Luffy pattered out right behind him, freshly scrubbed with wet hair still dripping on his shoulders. Much of his tension was gone. 

“Hat!” he exclaimed, immediately snatching Law up. “Were you waiting for me?” 

Law initiated a perfunctory struggle that lasted about three seconds. Luffy chattered at Zoro as they walked outside where the deck was mostly cleaned though looking significantly windblown from the force of the fight. Chopper called for Zoro and Luffy veered off, thankfully carrying Law away from the scorch of the afternoon sun. He took him to the aquarium room, letting Law down on his way to flinging himself onto the couch where he stretched dramatically with a “Waaah!” before going loose-limbed. “It’s nice in here!” he announced. 

It was nice, and much cooler in this room. Law had always liked it here, watching the multi-colored schools of fish in the encased blue water. Nowadays, their quick darts niggled at his canine brain but to his human mind, it was a mesmerizing, relaxing view. But he wasn’t looking at the fish today. Law lay down, tracing his gaze over Luffy. The sunlight gleamed through the clear water, casting rainbow hues over his body. It made him look otherworldly. Untouchable. 

“Torao liked this room. Reminded him of his ship.”

Law startled. He’d never said that aloud. Luffy just did that sometimes, pulled out knowledge about Law like they were secrets hidden in his straw hat. 

“He spent a buncha time here when we were going to Dressroba. Guess cause he thought he’d never see his home again.”

Another thing they’d never discussed that Luffy just knew. He’d always seemed to be scouring inside of Law in search of parts that Law himself didn’t think existed, digging up some better version that Law could never live up to. He’d waited for the other shoe to drop eventually, when Luffy would see all the scars carved in Law’s heart and realize there wasn’t anything worth it there. But Luffy liked him anyway. Even now, somehow, after all these years. It may not be all that Law wanted but it still meant something, that they could be friends. Maybe after this, if Law really was able to get back, they could rebuild what they once had. Law had missed him. As he feared, it would not be so simple to sail away again.

“Hey, Hat. Can I tell you a secret?”

Law lifted his head. Luffy was still staring upside down at the fish swimming past. The watercolored sun rays swayed across his face. 

“I wanna marry him,” Luffy said. 

Law blinked. A jumble of emotions occurred in rapid succession. What? came first, blindsided and perplexed. Who? bled into that, with a punch of righteous anger. Oh he’s found someone, was next, with a heart wrenching stab. Who? reappeared, hopeless and resigned. Of course he has followed, pretending not to care. Then, What? again, as the logical part of his brain reminded him Luffy had just been talking about Law, leading to What? one more time, filled with stark bewilderment. 

Luffy kept talking. “I dunno if he wants to anymore. When he said he loved me, I felt kinda sick and I didn’t know what to do because it wasn’t like Hammock or anyone else. It was Torao and he always made me feel weird. I didn’t get it. Then he wasn’t there anymore. He never came back.”

Law’s breath caught in his throat. 

“Torao always did his own thing so I didn’t notice at first. We just sailed everywhere and had lots of adventures and kept running into friends. So I figured we’d find Torao soon too. Then we sailed back to visit Dadan and Makino and the windmill guy again, and a buncha other places. When we got to Usopp’s home, Kaya was waiting for him. Usopp got this weird look on his face when he saw her.” Luffy did an exaggerated mimic of it, eyes blown wide, mouth hanging slightly open, complete with a peculiar smile. It broke a second later when he laughed at himself. “He looked really dumb. But he was so happy and I dunno, I thought of Torao.”

The fish swam around and around, displacing the water and shimmering the light. Luffy watched them. Law, frozen, watched him. 

“It’d been an awhile since we’d been there. Usopp stayed with her the whole time! But when we left, he said he needed to sail some more and it wasn’t fair to make her wait. Kaya said don’t be stupid. So Usopp’s gonna go back and make a family and only sail every now and then and not for very long ‘cause he says he doesn’t wanna miss anything. Then everyone started thinking about what they’d do when Usopp leaves. Like Sanji’s gonna go back to his restaurant. Zoro’ll probably join him ‘cause he said he’d travel on his own if we weren’t together but then Sanji said we’ll never see him again if we let him go ‘cause he’ll just get lost by himself and accidentally wind up in hell or something so he had to stay where Sanji could find him.”

Luffy’s silhouette shifted against the bright, clear waters. “Everyone has lotsa things they wanna do. Really amazing things. We’ll still sail together. Robin called it part-time. We’re always gonna be crew and we’ll always have Sunny as home. But we’ll have other homes too. Then Nami asked what I wanted to do. And I wanted to see Torao again. Nami said it had been so long. And it had. It kinda hurt. I wanted to go on another adventure with him.”

A brief pause.

“‘Cause I miss him,” said Luffy quietly.

More silence. Law couldn’t move. If he did, he might shatter the tableau in front of him like glass.

A beautiful rainbow fish stopped above Luffy, peering down at him. Luffy reached up and poked at it, sending it darting away. “Robin said she’d always wondered if something happened so I told her about the festival.”

Law squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn’t tell if that particular conversation took place with only Robin or in front of the entire Straw Hat crew. 

“And she asked about the funny feeling I had, where I felt kinda sick around him, and if it felt bad. It didn’t, just kinda weird, and sometimes it felt really good, and I got all uh, uh,” he wiggled his fingers, “tingly! Or how I feel when I use gomu gomu no fusen, and there’s more of me everywhere, like I’m full enough to explode. Robin said that didn’t sound like I was sick. It sounded like love.”

A horrid anticipation took root, a nausea that swelled in Law’s stomach. He was unsure if he wanted to hear the next words or was hoping they wouldn’t come. 

“She was right,” said Luffy. “I didn’t get it, before. But it was. It was always Torao.”

Law’s heart full-stopped. Then it thundered, only to be drowned out by the white noise ringing in his ears. He wondered for a moment if this was a dream. He stood up wildly, desperate to do something, anything, intending equally to go to him and to run away, but he was off-balanced and stumbled on his face, reminded all at once of his current form. A bad joke of a dream if it was one. 

Luffy’s gaze finally tore away from the circling fish. His lips quirked at Law’s clumsiness then dropped into a frown. “He was supposed to come back. But he didn’t. So we started trying to find him again. Torao can be really sneaky and changed his snail number and we lost the cool bear’s card on Laugh Tale and it was kinda fun at first, like a chase. He kept going to all these weird places. But now he’s…” Luffy trailed off. His head tilted back again, up towards the glimmering aquarium waters, suddenly far away. 

Breath rattled in Law’s lungs, made ragged with the helpless frustration that coursed through him. He wanted to scream. He wanted to find another sea beast and carve it into a million pieces. He wanted to yell at Luffy for saying this, for how deeply unfair it all was. Wanted to do something, say something, words bubbling up in his throat that he wouldn’t be able to identify until they came flying out. Maybe why now? or you’re mistaken, you can’t possibly feel that way or even you’re too fucking late. Or, perhaps, I love you so much it hurts to breathe. Law didn’t know, couldn’t say, because he could not say a word. 

Slowly, furiously, he lay back down, eyes glued to the silhouette in front of him, with a head full of utterly useless thoughts; because even though Luffy was so close he could reach out to touch him, there lay—more than ever before—an insurmountable barrier keeping them apart. 

After the festival, the Hearts sailed to the anniversary party. It was a wonderful celebration and everyone had a great time. Luffy treated Law normally; at least Law thought he did, but maybe that was because they barely saw each other and without a single moment alone. All of Luffy’s collected friends, family, and allies were there and Law was one in a crowd. They said hello and Law shared a drink with him and Zoro, briefly chatted with some other members of the Straw Hat crew, then spent a not insignificant amount of time quarreling with Eustass. It was a days long celebration and Law stuck around for an appropriate length and then was one of the first ships to slip back into the night. 

They did not say goodbye. 

It wasn’t unusual. They ran into each other often enough that they’d departed with little fanfare before. But this time, Law sailed further away with no intention of looking back, knowing Luffy always faced forwards, living in the here and the now with no worries for anyone out of sight, out of mind. It would appear as the natural order of things, a relationship that had run its course, a silent distance grown from ordinary circumstances. 

Law left because that was the only way. Left a piece of his heart behind that burned with a forever love, something Law knew to be as true as if the sun would rise tomorrow. An inescapable love, Law thought wryly, on those early nights when he allowed himself to dwell before he tried very hard—and ultimately spectacularly failed—to never think of it again. Inescapable for him, and inescapable for Luffy even if he didn’t know it or eventually believed he’d lost it because surely Law would do the sensible thing and let it go. 

Or most likely, Luffy wouldn’t think of him at all. 

That’s how it was as the years sailed past. For Luffy who never looked back, Law would be nothing more than a memory. For Law who could never look away, Luffy would be nothing more than a dream. 

Except, of course, about a year ago, the Thousand Sunny was spotted in the horizon. Law, heart in his throat, ordered a dive, dismissing it as an awful coincidence and with no idea—as was often the case with Monkey D. Luffy—of the headache doggedly sailing his way.